A Guide to Protecting Your Property While Promoting Healthy Shorelines
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Your Marine Waterfront A guide to protecting your property while promoting healthy shorelines Enjoy the beach. Protect your home. Improve shoreline habitat. Overview Puget Sound is a beautiful waterway with over 2,500 miles of The actions you take to manage and protect your waterfront shoreline including the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Hood Canal, property are essential for preserving the Sound as a special place stretching north to the international border and south to Olympia. for future generations. By offering choices to homeowners, this It offers stunning views, an incredible diversity of recreational booklet shifts the focus from bulkheads, or hard techniques, toward opportunities, and supports a vast array of fish, shellfish, and wildlife natural and restorative approaches to protect and enhance marine that are iconic to the Pacific Northwest. waterfront properties. Contents Introduction ......................................................................................................................2 Other Helpful Info .....................................................................................................34 Site Assessment ..............................................................................................................7 Choosing a Professional ................................................................................................ 35 36 Getting Started .................................................................................................................8 Permitting ....................................................................................................................... 37 Geology ............................................................................................................................10 Selecting Native Plants ................................................................................................. 41 Coastal Processes ...........................................................................................................12 Additional Resources ...................................................................................................... 42 Hydrology ........................................................................................................................14 Before and After Project Photos ................................................................................. 45 Other Site Characteristics ...........................................................................................15 Acknowledgments ......................................................................................................... Design Techniques .......................................................................................................16 Vegetation........................................................................................................................18 Drainage ..........................................................................................................................20 Locating Structures ....................................................................................................... 22 Log Placement ............................................................................................................... 24 Beach Nourishment ...................................................................................................... 26 Reslope and Revegetation ............................................................................................ 28 Bulkhead Installation ...................................................................................................... 30 Bulkhead Removal ......................................................................................................... 32 Sustainable choices for your waterfront are a good investment in your property and in the health of Puget Sound. 2 Design Techniques Introduction Benjamin Benschneider With iconic views and easy access to recreation, owning a Many alternatives to hard armoring provide protection to a waterfront property is a dream-come-true for many. But a waterfront property while supporting healthy beach habitat. In property’s greatest asset—its waterfront location—may come with many locations, hard vertical structures like bulkheads can be concerns about erosion, flooding, and exposure to the elements. replaced with elements that are functional, attractive, and better As a marine waterfront property owner you undoubtedly want to for the environment. protect your investment and its unique shoreline environment. 3 If you are thinking of replacing, repairing, or constructing a bulkhead on your shoreline or you are Introduction interested in how to best manage your shoreline, consider the following: ONE SIZE DOESN’T FIT ALL LOCATION MATTERS ATTRACTIVE BEACHES ADD VALUE Hard armoring of the shoreline (bulkheads) Locating residences and infrastructure Natural-looking waterfronts can make may be appropriate in select circumstances. away from the shoreline is the most a home more appealing and cost less to However, in many locations, using effective way to reduce the need for maintain. Many buyers of waterfront techniques that preserve or mimic natural shoreline protection. When needed, property envision family and friends playing shoreline characteristics can be equally shoreline armor should be installed as high in the water and relaxing on the beach in effective at protecting property. up the beach as possible. a way that may be difficult and unsafe if obstructed by a bulkhead. ARMORING CAN HAVE UNINTENDED THE SIMPLER, THE BETTER PROTECT WILDLIFE CONSEQUENCES Projects that are over-designed for a Bulkheads can change or eliminate upper Unfortunately, in some cases, hard particular site can negatively impact beach areas that are used by some small fish armoring can change or eliminate beach the beach environment with no added to lay their eggs. Reduced area for these habitat which reduces food and shelter for protection for the landowner. Often, eggs can result in fewer small fish for larger fish and wildlife. Hard armoring may also allowing the shoreline to function fish to eat, such as salmon. Fewer large fish increase erosion risk to neighbors. naturally or with minor enhancements will can reduce the food supply for both humans protect property. and orcas. Your decisions matter. Hard armor already impacts over 650 miles of Puget Sound’s shoreline. You can help by making informed decisions when considering how to manage your marine waterfront. 4 MORE FISHING REDUCED FISHING OPPORTUNITY OPPORTUNITY How you protect your waterfront matters. YOUR ACTIONS CAN PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY AND IMPROVE HABITAT FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE MORE PLACES TO PLAY LIMITS BEACH ACCESS Hard shoreline armoring can harm fish, wildlife, and the beach and may not Approaches that mimic natural beaches can protect your property and AND ENJOYMENT prevent erosion. benefit fish and wildlife habitat. BETTER BEACH ACCESS SHIFTS CHANGES BEACH Some shorelines can EROSION AND HABITAT be left natural! MAINTAINS RISK BEACH HABITAT SUPPORTS FEWER FISH AND ORCAS NATURAL & SOFT HARD ARMOR APPROACHES SUPPORTS MORE FISH AND ORCAS This booklet can help you identify the best approaches for your waterfront. 5 MORE FISHING REDUCED FISHING OPPORTUNITY OPPORTUNITY Introduction How you protect your waterfront matters. YOUR ACTIONS CAN PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY AND IMPROVE HABITAT FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE MORE PLACES TO PLAY LIMITS BEACH ACCESS Hard shoreline armoring can harm fish, wildlife, and the beach and may not Approaches that mimic natural beaches can protect your property and AND ENJOYMENT prevent erosion. benefit fish and wildlife habitat. BETTER BEACH ACCESS SHIFTS CHANGES BEACH Some shorelines can EROSION AND HABITAT be left natural! MAINTAINS RISK BEACH HABITAT SUPPORTS FEWER FISH AND ORCAS NATURAL & SOFT HARD ARMOR APPROACHES SUPPORTS MORE FISH AND ORCAS This booklet can help you identify the best approaches for your waterfront. 6 EXCITED ABOUT SMART APPROACHES FOR YOUR WATERFRONT? Concepts presented This booklet describes the first three steps to protect your home, enhance your in this booklet come property, and enjoy your beach: 1) assessing your site, 2) evaluating design from the Marine techniques that may best fit your situation, and 3) other helpful information. Shoreline Design The shoreline is a complex ecological and regulatory environment, and you will Guidelines technical likely require professional assistance to plan and implement your project. Your document. local planning office is a great resource and an early meeting with your county See page 41 for or city planner can help you learn about applicable regulations, approval time more details. frames, and any required special studies. pages pages pages 7-15 16- 33 34 - 44 ASSESS YOUR PROPERTY SELECT DESIGN TECHNIQUE(S) OTHER HELPFUL INFO Site Assessment introduces you Design Techniques introduces Look here for useful information to to characteristics of waterfront you to a variety of design help you get started: property including: approaches, ranging from: • Choosing a professional • Geologic features • Limited or no action • Permitting • Beach and wave characteristics • Soft/restorative improvements • Selecting native plants • Hydrologic features • Hard/structural improvements • Finding additional resources • Structure removal 7 Site Assessment Site Site AssessmentDesign Techniques Hugh Shipman Characterizing your site starts with simply observing the conditions A thorough assessment