East Sunny Sands split over beach nourishment

In their quest to enable nourishment of eroding Puget Island beach front property, Wahkiakum County commissioners on Tuesday found themselves caught between people who want sand on their property and those who don't.

The opposing comments came as commissioners were holding a public hearing on a proposal to modify the East Sunny Sands portion of the Puget Island Erosion Control District. Commissioners had proposed removing a section on the west end of the beach, including the ferry landing, and adding a stretch of property on the eastern end.

Commissioners and Public Works Director Chuck Beyer said the US Army Corps of Engineers suggested removing the western portion so that sand that might be placed there wouldn't erode and fill in the county ferry channel. That would avoid the expense of dredging it out of the ferrry channel, said Commissioner Dan Cothren.

They added that by extending the disposal zone eastward up the beach, they could expand the area of the zone and tie the disposal area into a stable area at the end of the beach.

Enlarging the boundaries would also add property to the zone. Commissioners want property owners in the district to levy a tax on themselves to help cover the cost of obtaining the permits necessary to have the dredged sand placed on their property.

Comments from property owners at the eastern end caused the board to redefine the extension.

"Residents between 190 and 216 East Sunny Sands all agree we don't want to become part of the flood control zone," said resident Rick Carlsen. They have no erosion, he said.

"I've not lost any property in 20 years," Gary Baker said. "I don't really want sand that belongs to the Department of Natural Resources placed there."

Theresa Boyle, representing owners of property next to Carlsen, agreed. "We've had no erosion," she said. "Therefore, I don't believe it's appropriate."

"I've lived on East Sunny Sands my whole life," said Terry Vik. There's never been an erosion problem at the east end of the beach, he said. "It's down below Pancake Point where the current really works on things."

In contrast, owners of property further down the beach repeated their concerns that erosion is threatening their property and homes.

They've been pressing commissioners for months to get the Corps of Engineers to set up a disposal program along the beach.

Commissioners said they're committed to getting that accomplished.

"My bottom line is that we need to get sand on the outside of the dike," said Cothren, who has been spearheading the effort for the board.

Commissioner Brady commented that the Corps wants a large, contiguous area for disposal because they say there's a lot of sand to be moved, and because it's economical.

After much discussion, commissioners asked Beyer to modify the proposed extension to start on property owned by the James R. and Charity Davis Trust. The property lies just below lots purchased by upriver ports as a staging area for a separate project to pump dredged sand to a disposal site inside the Island dikes.