Living Shorelines/ Soft Shore Protection Design and Implementation in Puget Sound Jim Johannessen Licensed Engineering Geologist, MS Coastal Geologic Services, Inc Bellingham, WA coastalgeo.com
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation High Variability
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation Sound-wide Guidance/ Mapping 2007 – 2013
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation What is Soft Shore Protection‐ What is not?
Soft Shoreline Stabilization, WA Ecology 2014
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation Marine Shoreline Design Guidelines by Coastal Geologic Services, for the Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife; EPA funding, 2014 Coastal geomorphology Site assessment methods Coastal process assessment methods Technique guidance Case studies and monitoring results 419 pages of good stuff
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation MSDG: Site & Coastal Processes Assessment for Design Technique Selection:
Wave energy
Erosion rate – Risk
Causes of erosion
Adjacent structures
Beach habitats
House setback distance
Shoreline length of site
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation MSDG 2014: Range of Design Techniques Type of Impacts to Approach Design Technique Key Elements Processes Removal of structures to restore the natural beach Restoration Bulkhead removal Improvement profile Non‐engineered management practices such as Best management planting native vegetation and managing surface and Passive practices groundwater None Techniques Vegetation management Preservation/enhancement of natural processes Relocation Infrastructure unaffected, relocated, or removed
Beach nourishment Preservation of natural processes and coastal dynamics Soft Shore Large wood Use of natural materials Low Protection Reslope/revegetation Slowing rather than eliminating erosion
Revetments Halting natural processes, creating a static shoreline Moderate‐to‐ Hard Armor Vertical bulkhead Lost beach area and substrate high (“seawall”) Attempts to eliminate erosion • Design techniques can be used alone or in combination • The spatial extent can vary from portion of a parcel to multiple parcels • Designs should address the project needs/objectives
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation Design techniques for habitat improvements Process-based: • Remove or avoid installation of shore armor along sediment sources (feeder bluffs) to maintain littoral drift inputs • Remove various types of structures on beach to restore alongshore and cross-shore connectivity Site-specific: • Uncover upper intertidal and lower supratidal AND re-create appropriate substrate to restore forage fish spawning habitat • Surf smelt and sand lance • Primary food source for returning adult salmon • Restore vegetation in backshore habitats • Terrestrial insects for birds, other wildlife • Allow room for drift log and wrack deposition • Greater habitat complexity • Increased organic matter and organisms
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation …call it by different names: Soft Shore Protection Living Shorelines Nature Based Solutions Design with Nature Green Shores Dr. Maury Schwartz
Wolf Bauer, PE
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation Projects that follow all deigned by Coastal Geologic Services
These beach enhancement and restoration projects, like many others in the Puget Sound, are largely designed to improve habitat.
Driven by: -Beach surface recovery -Sediment delivery -Transport processes
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation SE Bellingham Bay 1887
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation Marine Park, Bellingham, WA
Port of Bellingham park High use; Ski-to-Sea race Limited upland & beach Revetment removed, beach nourishment installed Funding: ALEA (WA State)
BEFOREAFTER – – 2010 2000
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation Marine Park - 2004
Awarded one of America’s Best Restored Beaches by American Shore & Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA) 2004
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation Marine Park
2005
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation Marine Park Feb. 4, 2006
Feb. 4, 2006
Storm conditions
Beaches are dynamic!
2006
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation Marine Park
Urban shores may require hard structures, Surf smelt habitat to form at enhancement sites in urban environments, Orientation to waves cannot be compromised
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation Post Pt. Lagoon
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation 2017 - After
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation Post Pt. Lagoon - Before
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation Post Pt. Lagoon – 2008 - During
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation Post Pt. Lagoon - After
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation SLR ready
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation SLR ready
With space & “belief”, adaptation is possible
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation Analysis Tools: Shore Change
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation Littoral transport analysis
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation 60% Design
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation Bulkhead Removal Private Site, West Sound, Orcas Island ‐ 2015
20 ft high marine bank
Willing landowners, late 2015 removal
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation Bulkhead Removal Private Site, West Sound, Orcas Island ‐ 2015
20 ft high marine bank
Willing landowners, late 2015 removal
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation Restoration Private Site, West Sound, Orcas Island ‐ 2015
Some owners, managers are ready to plan for SLR
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation Driftwood Beach, Blakely Island 2016 San Juan Co.
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation Driftwood Beach, Blakely Island: 1998, Pre-Project
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation Driftwood Beach, Blakely Island 1998
MHHW
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation Driftwood Beach, Blakely Island 1998
MHHW
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation Driftwood Beach, Blakely Island 2016
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation Driftwood Beach, Blakely Island 2016
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation Weaverling Spit, Samish Indian Reservation – Pre‐project (2006)
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation Weaverling Spit — Construction: Bulkhead removal
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation Weaverling Spit – Construction
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation Weaverling Spit – 2010
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation Weaverling Spit – 2017
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation Summary Every site is different: Standard engineering evaluation methods clash with irregular shores and terrain, and natural materials Process based restoration is the priority; Pacific salmon habitat restoration is key driver for Puget Sound projects Regional guidance documents define best practices Complimentary techniques often needed: gravel & sand nourishment, large wood, vegetation, armor removal, regrading More monitoring and synthesis will inform future work
Living Shorelines Tech. Transfer Workshop Design and Implementation