Coastal Erosion

Dear Editor,

Many thanks for your article on the problems caused by coastline erosion.

One thing that often eludes attention is the relationship between erosion and improperly sited or planned development. This is most often a cause-and-effect relationship, especially when the development takes place in coastal wetlands.

Take, for example, the proposed golf course development planned for the wetlands at Westport'sHalf Moon Bay.

The Honorable Mayor, Berkley Barker, stated his deep concern about erosion along Half Moon Bay. Yet he and the City Council are pushing for that snosh Links golf course that will be situated precisely where the erosion is at its worst.

What could be on their minds?

The Mayor is worried that the wastewater treatment plant will be washed away by erosion. Roads are being cut off and homes, infrastructure and businesses are being imperiled by erosion.

Quoth the Mayor, "What's happening now at the site is not unexpected."

So why oh why does the Port of Grays Harbor and Westport's Mayor Barker want to have a massive business operation placed exactly where it will likely be washed away without a HUGE infusion of tax dollars? The US Army Corps of Engineers indicated their unwillingness to spend money to safeguard any new development in the area proposed for the Links.

The record of Westport's involvement with the Links shows that:

• - They ignored the recommendations of their handpicked Hearing Examiner.
• - They ignored the horrendous effects the Links will have on Westport's water supply.
• - They ignored some major changes recommended by the so-called Market Analysis.
• - They ignored the shortcomings of the Environmental Impact Statement.
• - They ignored the objections of the US Corps of Engineers.
• - They ignored the inevitable flooding that results when coastal wetlands are filled in.
• - They ignored the facts and figures produced by the public, by the City's own records, by the golf course industry, by the Washington State Government, by the results of the County's survey of Grays Harbor County residents, and by the US Census.
• - They ignored major citizenry input.
• The only thing they haven't ignored is the lobbying by the real estate industry and the developer. Perhaps the World article will make them reconsider their support for the golf course

Abe Ringel
Grayland.

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