DESCRIPTION
The Northwest Straits Foundation removed rip-rap along approximately ΒΌ mile shoreline at Bowman Bay in Deception Pass State Park. SFEG assisted with the project by re-establishing a backshore and beach fringe plant community after construction was complete. Native beach grasses, and shrubs adapted to salt spray and periodic inundation during extreme tides were installed along the upper margin of the restored beach. Work was completed by hosting a series of volunteer events. Students from Anacortes who have completed the "Mountain School" program with North Cascades Institute assisted with planting the backshore area in November of 2015. A volunteer event to install beach grass was hosted in April of 2016. Volunteers who have completed SFEGs volunteer vegetation monitoring workshop were enlisted to track vegetation survival, and to assist with weed control at the site through the fall of 2017.
The Northwest Straits Foundation partnered with the Skagit Marine Resources Committee, State Parks and Whidbey Island Conservation District to design and permit the removal of 1,600 tons of armoring from the shoreline at Bowman Bay in Deception Pass State Park. This project achieved multiple stakeholder goals for the site, including restoring natural sediment transport processes, improving 0.6 acres of nearshore habitat for salmon and forage fish, improving public access to the beach, and demonstrating the value of natural shorelines over armored shorelines to thousands of visitors each year. The feasibility assessment included a full site assessment with special emphasis on the geomorphic processes at work at the site and how best to restore them with the site restrictions and conflicting uses inherent in a highly popular State Park. The final design and restoration was based on the feasibility report and includes removing the armoring, planting native vegetation, moving the walking path, and protecting infrastructure with softshore protection. The design includes a construction cost estimate, and a completed monitoring, maintenance, and adaptive management plan.
Following completion of the feasibility and design report, the project was funded for implementation. Over 500 linear feet of shoreline armor was removed in October 2015, followed by several seasons of riparian planting conducted by volunteers, local students, Washington Conservation Corps members, and Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group. Citizen-science volunteers have conducted monitoring based on the established plan since December 2014.
