Shore Woods Beach Maintenance Update

On Thursday, July 5, 2007, Members of the Board met with two representatives of the government to assess our options for preventing further beach erosion. Randi Thurston, a Washington State Habitat Biologist, and Steve Heacock from the Kitsap County Department of Community Development, walked with us down through the green belt to the beach. They confirmed previous communication from the county that we could keep the greenbelt pruned back to avoid further encroachment by the plants and could remove Alder and other weed trees before they grow large enough to do potential damage. They applauded our maintenance of our greenway in keeping out noxious weeds and encouraging native plants.

Randi Thurston expressed the state's interest in our beach: "… there are two concerns related to fish. One is that the beach is documented as a sand lance spawning beach. Sand lance (candlefish) spawn on upper intertidal sandy/pea gravel beach between Oct 15th and March 1st. The eggs incubate in the sand/gravel. The other concern is that salmon and other fishes, when they are very young or small, migrate along the shorelines in very shallow water [where they are] likely to escape larger predators and also because upper intertidal areas have good food resources."

At the beach it was confirmed that a hardscaped bulkhead would not be allowed. The idea that a gentle sloping of the grass to the beach would prevent erosion was presented. They thought that would not help based on the natural processes of the wave action on the beach. A method of beach retention called soft-shore development would be allowed. "Typically, bio-engineering or soft-bank protection as it is often called, requires the anchoring of logs and rootwads and the placement of large round rock to reduce erosion. Since the rock isn't suitable for sand lance spawning, this material would have to be placed landward of the current bankline. This is why we said the bankline would need to be pulled back to create a minimum of a 7:1 slope if this option was pursued". We could also put in a plant buffer of 40 feet or so, which they felt would strongly help to deter beach erosion.

Randi also suggested that we discuss with Driftwood Key their upcoming dredging project. They need a place to deposit their sand and we would certainly be a convenient option for them. It would add back some of the beach that has been washed away over the years and would be a natural, though temporary, bulkhead. "Since the dredged material from Driftwood Key is similar to the existing beach material (sand/pea gravel) and suitable for sand lance spawning you could put it in front of the existing bank along with logs and rootwads."

On July 22,2007, I spoke with Doug Miller. He is the contact from Driftwood Key who is coordinating their dredging project. He agreed that dumping their sand on our beach would be a savings for them. But we would have to be ready to be "handed" the sand and properly deposit it on our beach according to government regulations. This would involve three or four permits, plans submitted to the appropriate government entity and the hiring of earth moving equipment (and getting it on the beach). Driftwood Key plans on beginning their dredging in late October. I feel that the preparation time available and expense involved makes this project impractical for Shore Woods.

Steve Heacock referred to these as possible "beach nourishment" projects that could possibly get some funding/grant support. If the community decides it is interested in pursuing any of these projects we can further investigate our options.

Sally Gruger
Treasurer, Shore Woods Board of Directors
July 27, 2007

*Randi Thurston wrote sentences in quotations.