Willapa Erosion Control Action Now (WECAN)
Supporting ongoing erosion control and shoreline recovery projects along the northern
shore of Willapa Bay in Pacific County, Washington.
North Willapa Bay Shoreline Stabilization Projects
Approximate extents of ongoing and proposed erosion control projects between North Cove and Tokeland, as of Jan 2020. Courtesy of Mott MacDonald. Click the image to enlarge and view the accompanying table.
WECAN and their partners have had significant success applying an adaptive management process to implement pilot projects at strategic locations across the region. So far, these various collaborative efforts have had relative success stabilizing one of the fastest eroding shorelines on the United States’ west coast.
Fundamental to these efforts has been the goal of identifying, evaluating, and deploying nature-based solutions that protect the environment, economy, community, and culture. While these projects provide short-term relief, this partnership understands the compounding effects of sea level rise and the looming threat of a tsunami. A unified strategy for the long-term resilience of the region is in development.
At left is a recording of a presentation given for the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association by George Kaminsky in Fall 2020. It describes the North Cove Dynamic Revetment results and features David Cottrell of Pacific County Drainage District #1.
Project Inventory
Existing and ongoing erosion mitigation projects spearheaded by WECAN are listed below.
Additional coastal resilience project case studies for the entirety of Washington State can be found on the WA Coastal Hazards Risk Reduction Project Mapper.
Willapa Shoreline Erosion Mitigation Master Plan
This collective long-term vision and strategy will help WECAN align short-term efforts with long-term goals, prioritize and pursue resources for implementation, and inform appropriate management measures that can be incorporated into existing regional plans and ordinances. This project was carried out by Moffatt & Nichol and Pacific County, with input from WECAN members.
Click here to view the Final Plan. For more information and recent updates, visit the Public Meetings tab.
North Cove Dynamic Revetment
The North Cove Dynamic Revetment Project consists of multiple strategies for reducing wave impacts, rebuilding shoreline material, and reinforcing the existing shoreline. Natural materials, such as cobble, sand and large wood, provide a porous surface that absorbs wave energy, rather than deflecting it to adjacent areas as typical rip rap or bulkheads do.
Shoalwater Bay Barrier Dune Restoration Project
To restore flood protection for the Shoalwater Bay Tribal community and cultural lands, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reconstructed a sand dune on Empire Spit near the Shoalwater Bay Indian Reservation. The federally-funded project provides coastal storm damage protection.
Restoration of Graveyard Spit
WECAN is supporting the design and permitting process for the construction of a nature-based dune and cobble berm to restore and protect Graveyard Spit, just south of SR 105. The project will halt the ongoing loss of the spit and the vulnerable back-barrier estuary, while also protecting community infrastructure.
SR 105 Pilot Dynamic Revetment
State Road 105 is the primary transporatation and utility corridor for the communities located along the north shore of Willapa Bay. To address immediate erosion and flooding concerns, a dynamic revetment consisting of natural materials was placed at a key point along the roadway. Wave action redistributes the materials across the shore, helping to rebuild the beach and dune system.
Drainage District Emergency Repair Protection
Grayland Drainage District No. 1 undertook emergency protection measures utilizing natural materials to reduce erosion and mitigate flooding threats around the exit point of Drainage Ditch #1. These efforts help address the threat of saltwater intrusion that would cripple Grayland’s cranberry farming industry.
Protecting SR 105 at the Drainage Ditch Mouth
WSDOT, in collaboration with Grayland Drainage District No. 1 and other WECAN members, is carrying out erosion prevention measures to protect State Route 105 near the mouth of Drainage Ditch #1.
Willapa Shoreline Erosion Protection Demonstration Project
This demonstration project is intended to develop expertise in construction techniques and materials requirements for future use in implementation of erosion protection projects along the Willapa Bay shoreline. The resulting plan will act as a template for followon shoreline erosion protection measures.
Section 103 North Cove Shoreline Protection Project
In September 2019, the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) completed a Federal Interest Determination under the Continuing Authorities Program (CAP) for the North Cove Shoreline Protection Project. The resulting potential recommended plan for the area includes a cobble beach/dynamic revetment consisting of a 5,000 foot segment that would run from existing shoreline protections near Old State Route SR 105 north to Warrenton-Cannery Road, and a 3,300 foot segment that would run 3,300 feet south to the drainage ditch tide gate. The next step for this project is the feasibility study (expected September 2021), followed by implementation.