Shore Armor Removal Portfolio 2015

Presentation Abstract

Shore armor, such as bulkheads, rock revetments, and seawalls can negatively impact ecological function and impair nearshore processes in coastal systems. Natural Salish Sea shores provide vital foraging, refuge, and rearing habitat for juvenile salmonids. Negative impacts of shore armor include reduced sediment input from bluffs needed to sustain down-drift beaches and spits, increased wave reflection, direct burial of the backshore, and sometimes intertidal beach. Together these impacts result in a simplification of the shoreline, reduced beach width, and loss of habitats. The Puget Sound Partnership has made reduction of armor part of its Action Agenda. Shore armor is sometimes unnecessary and alternatives exist; under these circumstances shore armor and coastal structures can be removed and the beaches and bluffs of the coastal system can be restored/enhanced to a natural, functioning state.

This showcase of successfully implemented shore armor removal projects, partnerships between agencies and organizations, and an informed and engaged public will encourage progress toward recovering coastal systems and nearshore ecosystems in the Salish Sea. Coastal Geologic Services has been involved in every stage (identification, prioritization, assessment, feasibility, design, construction oversight, and monitoring) for over 42 shore armor removal projects. The selected seven recent projects removed over 1,500 feet of shore armor in five Puget Sound counties. Projects highlighted include those at Deception Pass State Park, Ala Spit—Island County park, a City of Port Angeles park, and private residences. CGS is currently designing 16 bulkhead removal projects under a variety of funding sources—these projects are happening at an increasing rate.

Session Title

Bulkhead Removal - Putting goals into practice

Keywords

Keywords: bulkhead, bulkhead removal, armor, shore armor removal, restoration, restoration design

Conference Track

Shorelines

Conference Name

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2016 : Vancouver, B.C.)

Document Type

Event

Start Date

2016 12:00 AM

End Date

2016 12:00 AM

Location

2016SSEC

Type of Presentation

Poster

Genre/Form

conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events); posters

Contributing Repository

Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.

Subjects – Topical (LCSH)

Armourstone--Environmental aspects--Washington (State)--Puget Sound; Shore protection--Washington (State)--Puget Sound; Restoration ecology--Washington (State)--Puget Sound

Geographic Coverage

Puget Sound (Wash.); Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)

Comments

Keywords: bulkhead, bulkhead removal, armor, shore armor removal, restoration, restoration design

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

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Shore Armor Removal Portfolio 2015

2016SSEC

Shore armor, such as bulkheads, rock revetments, and seawalls can negatively impact ecological function and impair nearshore processes in coastal systems. Natural Salish Sea shores provide vital foraging, refuge, and rearing habitat for juvenile salmonids. Negative impacts of shore armor include reduced sediment input from bluffs needed to sustain down-drift beaches and spits, increased wave reflection, direct burial of the backshore, and sometimes intertidal beach. Together these impacts result in a simplification of the shoreline, reduced beach width, and loss of habitats. The Puget Sound Partnership has made reduction of armor part of its Action Agenda. Shore armor is sometimes unnecessary and alternatives exist; under these circumstances shore armor and coastal structures can be removed and the beaches and bluffs of the coastal system can be restored/enhanced to a natural, functioning state.

This showcase of successfully implemented shore armor removal projects, partnerships between agencies and organizations, and an informed and engaged public will encourage progress toward recovering coastal systems and nearshore ecosystems in the Salish Sea. Coastal Geologic Services has been involved in every stage (identification, prioritization, assessment, feasibility, design, construction oversight, and monitoring) for over 42 shore armor removal projects. The selected seven recent projects removed over 1,500 feet of shore armor in five Puget Sound counties. Projects highlighted include those at Deception Pass State Park, Ala Spit—Island County park, a City of Port Angeles park, and private residences. CGS is currently designing 16 bulkhead removal projects under a variety of funding sources—these projects are happening at an increasing rate.