Restoration Doesn’t Have to Mean Losing Infrastructure
Presentation Abstract
A heavily impacted site in Thatcher Bay, Blakely Island, was identified as a priority site for beach restoration. Historic use of the bay was for logging exports from the island via a barge ramp and log roll structure. Development of the shoreline had resulted in a heavily degraded beach containing multiple stages of damaged or failing revetments, with associated debris scattered over a large area. While the log roll structure was no longer used, the ramp provided continuing barge access to the island, and therefore required preservation. A restoration design was formulated and implemented to both preserve the barge ramp while restoring beach habitat. Efforts included removal of beach debris and reconfiguration of the barge ramp for both smaller footprint and easier barge access. Drainage features, originally consisting of a simple ditch, were upgraded to buried pipe to provide additional room for landward relocation of the ramp. The existing revetment was reconstructed in a more landward position, providing additional space for beach habitat in this known forage fish spawning region. Following restoration, 5,000 square feet of beach habitat had been restored.
Session Title
Session S-02G: Reimagining Shorelines
Conference Track
Shorelines
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2014 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
1-5-2014 5:00 PM
End Date
1-5-2014 6:30 PM
Location
Room 6C
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Shore protection--Washington (State)--Blakely Island; Restoration ecology--Washington (State)--Blakely Island
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Blakely Island (Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Restoration Doesn’t Have to Mean Losing Infrastructure
Room 6C
A heavily impacted site in Thatcher Bay, Blakely Island, was identified as a priority site for beach restoration. Historic use of the bay was for logging exports from the island via a barge ramp and log roll structure. Development of the shoreline had resulted in a heavily degraded beach containing multiple stages of damaged or failing revetments, with associated debris scattered over a large area. While the log roll structure was no longer used, the ramp provided continuing barge access to the island, and therefore required preservation. A restoration design was formulated and implemented to both preserve the barge ramp while restoring beach habitat. Efforts included removal of beach debris and reconfiguration of the barge ramp for both smaller footprint and easier barge access. Drainage features, originally consisting of a simple ditch, were upgraded to buried pipe to provide additional room for landward relocation of the ramp. The existing revetment was reconstructed in a more landward position, providing additional space for beach habitat in this known forage fish spawning region. Following restoration, 5,000 square feet of beach habitat had been restored.
