Informal Appeal of Illahee Beach Nourishment Project. As stated in an earlier Update, the Illahee Community Club's request for an informal appeal of the Illahee Beach Nourishment project was finally approved. We promised more information on the Illahee Beach Nourishment project, so this is what we know.
Connected to the Dredging of Illahee Culvert. The county has a blanket HPA (hydraulic Project Approval) to dredge out all culverts in the county. The "Illahee Beach Nourishment" project is a new HPA to take the dredged material and place it on top of the Schutt's Point spit in the name of "beach nourishment." We think this is to be done once a year for five years, though some of those attending the Port's hearing last week on the same subject, thought they heard it could be done twice a year.
How Much Material? We have been asked how much material is being dredged. The permit says ~50 cubic yards from the downstream end of the culvert. The material is to be placed on top of the spit in a row 100 feet long by 10 feet wide according to a drawing. The height would be 18 inches, and if done once a year for 5 years would make it 7 and a half feet high, and double that if it is done twice a year.
How Does That Help the Beach? That is the question we are trying to understand. The natural movement of beach sediment is to the north in what is called a drift cell. It is a natural process that probably keeps the Schutt's Point spit area beach sediment intact. Does the spit need help? We haven't noticed any problems, and other than just wanting to dispose of the sediment onto the beach rather than in a gravel pit, we don't understand why it is being done.
Littoral Drift. Littoral drift is what we know this movement of sediment to be, though it has other names. We have attached the wikipedia link if you want more information. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longshore_drift
Attendees? The Illahee Community Club voted at its last meeting to file the informal appeal. There were several community members at the Port's informal appeal hearing in Olympia last week. Illahee residents are welcome to come and express their thoughts.
Beach Silting Problem. We have talked with a number of residents who have been concerned for years with the silting that has been going on at the beaches from the storm surges of Illahee Creek, and the damaging affect the silt has on clams and oysters.
More Beach Silt? Some of them are concerned that dumping the culvert sediment, which contains more silt is only compounding the problem. We are hoping some of them will be able to tell the DFW Appeals Coordinator what is happening to the shellfish now because of excessive sediment, not to mention a proposal to add more.
The Ghost Net Guy to Attend. Dale Thoemke, the ghost net guy, was invited by an Illahee resident to attend. We are hoping that he, as a diver, will be willing to talk about the damage silting does to shellfish.
Port Orchard Hearing Thursday,1 PM. The meeting is being held at the DFW offices in Port Orchard, which is much better than having to drive to Olympia. The time is 1 pm. The offices are at 502 High Street, Suite 112, in Port Orchard. The DFW phone number is (360) 874-7258 if you need more information. Or you can call me, Jim Aho, at 479-1049.
Jim Aho
