Shores residents face complex erosion options - June 10, 1999
By JENNY LYNN ZAPPALA - DAILY WORLD WRITER The Aberdeen Daily World
OCEAN SHORES - Property owners along the ocean expressed their fears and frustrations last night about erosion that is eating away at the beach in Ocean Shores.
The meeting was part of a month-long public comment period on a draft version of the Ocean Shores Coastal Erosion Management Strategy environmental impact statement. The comments will be incorporated into a final revision that city council members will use to choose a solution to the erosion problem.
The public comment period ends July 7.
"You could tell people were steamed, but they were civil," said Kari Rokstad of the state Department of Ecology, one of the agencies that helped develop the report.
The goal is to narrow the list to two or three alternatives for the council to consider.
"We hope to screen out alternatives that don't have a prayer, we can't afford and we can't get permits for," said Steve Babcock of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, one of the draft authors.
Sue Patnude, the city's director of Community Development, said the draft process is taking a long time because there is a lot of public money and public interest involved.
City officials went to Washington, D.C. last March to lobby federal officials for funding for whatever solution is eventually proposed.
In making their pitch, they pointed out that many Ocean Shores property owners come from other parts of the state. A study of ZIP codes showed that $56 million worth of property is owned by residents from the 8th congressional district, which includes the Bellevue area.
"They come here to vacation, to retire, to enjoy our beaches," said Patnude.
Bill Heinlein, an Ocean Shores resident of five years, who contributed to the plan, said he is confident funding will be found.
"After we pick an alternative, you can find a few ways to skin a cat," he said. "It can still be a win-win situation."
Residents had differing opinions about what that win-win situation will be.
"The only reason it's a problem is they built those houses and treatment plant down there," said Pat Seaman, who has lived in the area all of her life. Seaman, who is now retired, said she has seen the shoreline in southwest Ocean Shores change all the time.
Other property owners appealed to officials to save the beach and their properties.
"We bought our lots in good faith. We built our homes in good faith," said resident and realtor Lois Westland. "We are in danger."
Resident Steve Buck said whatever decision is made will attract or scare away future investors.
"If you do not protect the investments of the people down there, investors will go elsewhere," he said.
Residents also expressed concern that not all Ocean Shores property owners will be notified by the July 7 comment deadline. The unusually high number of residents who live elsewhere made a citywide notification difficult and expensive, Patnude said.
The decision-making process will be complex, Patnude said. "We are also talking about sewer lines, roads, electricity, water, . . . people, infrastructure, wildlife, state and federal agencies," she said.
Representatives from the citizens, government officials and scientists who authored the draft were present to answer questions, including the citizen involvement team, Army Corps of Engineers, the state Department of Ecology, the Department of Fish & Wildlife, Parks & Recreation, Battelle Memorial Institute and city staff.
Engineers said the Ocean Shores erosion problem is unique. The north jetty, built in 1870 to create a narrow, navigable harbor entrance, depleted the sand bar and deposited the sand in what is now Ocean Shores.
The sand buildup began to slow down in 1950 and erode around 1990 as the sand bar and river sediment disappeared. Northerly currents continue to push the sand north, taking a quarter of a million yards of sand from Ocean Shores every year. The problem: no more sand.
Engineers said the situation will eventually equalize, but they are not sure where or when. Regardless, current buildings are threatened.
Engineers encouraged residents to read the full draft.
Any questions can be directed to Patnude at the Ocean Shores Permit Center.
When the comment period has ended, the public comments will be forwarded to city council members. The draft authors will make a recommendation of one or possibly more alternatives in the final draft.
Copies of the draft are available at City Hall, the permit center, the library and other public offices. Drafts also can be purchased at the permit center for $20.
Written comments should be submitted to: Sue Patnude, Director, Department of Community Development, City of Ocean Shores, P.O. Box 909, Ocean Shores 98569.
Or send e-mail to ospw@techline.com and put "DEIS Comments" in the subject line.
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