WASHINGTON COASTAL HAZARDS RESILIENCE NETWORK
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Willapa Erosion Control Action Now

Willapa Erosion Control Alliance Now (WECAN) is an ongoing community initiative to protect the northern shores of Willapa Bay in Pacific County, Washington. The erosion along nearly six miles of these shores has been so significant and ever-increasing that the area has earned its infamous moniker of “Washaway Beach.” 

Prior studies of this area by Pacific County, the Washington Department of Ecology, and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) have identified major coastal processes of geology, weather, climate, and tidal actions influencing the erosion. In addition, USACE partnered with the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe in 2013 to restore the protective sand dune on the barrier island spits fronting their reservation in Tokeland, WA. These studies and construction experience highlight the complexity of controlling coastal storm impacts along this shoreline and suggest appropriate and effective protection measures.

The urgency for these protection measures cannot be overstated. Recent storm surges and tidal actions now threaten to breach the remaining defenses of State Highway SR105 and result in catastrophic flooding of nearly 4,000 acres of private and public lands, including loss of cranberry farms (supporting $8M in annual crop value and 350 peak-season farming and processing jobs) and Native American lands of cultural and historical significance to the Shoalwater Bay Tribe. There are no alternate routes for cross-county transit or utility infrastructure, thereby compromising access to electricity, schools, the Shoalwater Bay Tribe health clinic, and law enforcement for over 1300 businesses and residences.


WECAN's Response
WECAN is initiating state and federal action to respond to these coastal processes at North Cove. For more information, please contact WeCan@co.pacific.wa.us.

Reports and Media
Assessment of Coastal Erosion and Future Projections for North Cove, Pacific County (Department of Ecology, 2017)
Hope Floats in Washaway Beach (KCTS video and article)
North Cove: the Erosion of a Coastal Community (Washington Coast Economist blog)


Google Earth time lapse of North Cove 1984-2013. Compilation courtesy of George Kaminsky.

Public Meetings

May 9, 2017
Agenda
Presentations
Meeting Announcement

November 16, 2016
Agenda
Presentations


Contacts

WECAN Administration
WeCan@co.pacific.wa.us

Charlene Nelson, Shoalwater Bay Tribe
cnelson@shoalwaterbay-nsn.gov

Lisa Ayers, Pacific County Commissioner District #3
layers@co.pacific.wa.us

Colin Newell, Washington Department of Transportation
NewellC@wsdot.wa.gov

Tim Crose, Pacific County Department of Community Development
tcrose@co.pacific.wa.us

Mike Nordin, Pacific Conservation District
plutroll@willapabay.org


David Cottrell, Grayland Drainage District #1
cranberrydavid@yahoo.com

Kevin Decker, Washington Sea Grant
kadecker@uw.edu

David Michalsen, US Army Corps of Engineers
David.R.Michalsen@nwp01.usace.army.mil

Tim Pelzel, Friends of North Cove
timpelzel@gmail.com
 
Kelly Rupp, LeadToResults, LLC
kelly.rupp@leadtoresults.com

Bobbak Talebi, Washington Department of Ecology
bobbak.talebi@ecy.wa.gov



Top Photo: Chelsea L Wood, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://www.flickr.com/photos/chelsealwood/28949501036/in/photostream/
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  • Home
  • Blog
  • Featured Projects
    • Washington Coastal Resilience Project
    • Willapa Shoreline Erosion Protection Demonstration Project
    • WECAN
  • About Us
    • Members
    • Meetings
    • Join