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.

Scientific Studies and Technical Reports

Comprehensive & Background

Pacific County – North Willapa Erosion Mitigation Plan. Developed by Moffatt & Nicholl for Pacific County. Funded by FEMA Cooperative Technical Partners (CTP) Program. Published January 2024.

The complex erosion issues facing North Willipa are addressed through nine Focus Areas, each of which is described in  detail within the document. Topics covered include history of the region, overview and purpose of the planning project, hazards and impacts, erosion mitigation efforts, monitoring, funding, implementation plan, and summary of findings.

North Cove: A Coastal Community vs the Pacific Ocean – Story Map. Washington Department of Ecology Coastal Monitoring and Analysis Program, June 4, 2020.

This story map comprehensively describes the history of North Cove, from the early stages of erosion up through the recent and ongoing mitigation work. It contains many figures, photographs, and other visuals that assist in illustrating the scope of the issues faced, the studies conducted to understand them, and mitigation projects undertaken to address them. 

Economic Assessments

The Economic Toll of a Disappearing Community. Kevin Decker, Washington Sea Grant. January 2018.

This report briefly summarizes the economic impacts of erosion experienced in the North Cove area to date. It also contains projections of additional economic impacts of erosion out to 2060 if nothing is done to stabilize the shoreline. 

Economic Assessment of Erosion and Tidal Inundation Impacts to the Grayland Cranberry Industry. Kim Patton, Washington State University, 2019.

This brief summarizes the economic impacts to the Grayland cranberry farming industry that would occur if the bogs experienced sustained tidal inundation with seawater as a result of a major erosion inundation event. Following such an event, it would take more than $50 million to renovate, replant, and restore the bogs to their present farm value. 

Project Documents & Technical Analyses

Graveyard Spit Restoration & Resilience Project plans and materials

North Willapa Shoreline Protection Demonstration Project plans and materials. Mott MacDonald.

These materials were developed by Mott MacDonald to inform WECAN on the North Willapa Shoreline Protection Demonstration Project process. The first document contains the report on the Master Plan for the area. The second summarizes the services needed to develop preferred erosion protection concepts and conduct design and permitting. The third document is the presentation for WECAN of the pre-feasibility study. The fourth is a presentation for WECAN of the project plan.

Analysis of Options for Maintaining SR 105 near Washaway Beach. Washington State Department of Transportation, July 2015.

This report analyzes the coastal processes that are threatening SR 105 in the vicinity of Washaway Beach and evaluates options for dealing with future threats to the highway. Key findings and recommendations are provided.

Feasibility of Long-Term Shoreline Stabilization Alternatives between North Cove and Tokeland, WA. David Michalsen, US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Seattle District, October 2018.

In response to rapidly increasing flooding and erosion risks, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) requested assistance from USACE to update erosion models for the area and analyze the feasibility of maintaining SR 105 in its present location. This study also presents conceptual level design alternatives and cost estimates.

Approved Federal Determination Report for North Cove Shoreline Protection Project, Section 103. USACE, Seattle District. September 2019.

Scientific Studies & Monitoring

    North Cove Dynamic Revetment Monitoring

    Ecology has been conducting topographic monitoring surveys of the North Cove Dynamic Revetment and the surrounding beach since the revetment’s construction in December 2018. These reports describe the results, including how the revetment has dissipated wave energy and facilitated the deposition of sediment to halt the previously rapid and destructive erosion of the North Cove shoreline. 

    SR 105 Pilot Dynamic Revetment Monitoring Reports

    These reports summarize the monitoring results for WSDOT’s pilot Dynamic Revetment along SR 105, which was completed in January 2018. The dynamic revetment has generally performed as intended, with storm erosion transporting the berm material to the toe where it can buffer and dissipate wave energy. Unfortunately, due to project footprint constraints the cobble berm was constructed with a narrow width at the western end where wave energy is highest, as waves refract of the adjoining traditional angular revetment. In 2019, the rate of erosion required multiple cobble replacement projects at the west end. This level of replenishment was not viewed as sustainable for WSDOT, so WSDOT replaced the dynamic revetment with an angular rock revetment in the most critical section. WSDOT determined that a significantly wider dynamic revetment in this location would allow the berm to deform and create a broad slope that could better absorb the excess wave energy to protect the highway and backshore wetland. A project of this nature is currently being pursued in partnership with WECAN: the Graveyard Spit Restoration and Resilience Project.

    Assessment of Coastal Erosion and Future Projections for North Cove, Pacific County. Washington Department of Ecology, June 2017.

    This report provides an updated erosion assessment and associated projections for the area around North Cove on the north shore of Willapa Bay. The projections demonstrate that the beach will continue to rapidly erode over the next 40 years if nothing is done to protect the shoreline.