Erosion control boundaries are contested

by Rick Nelson

East Sunny Sands residents continue to debate what should be the new boundaries of their Puget Island Erosion Control District.

Wahkiakum County commissioners have been trying to expand and modify the boundaries of the Sunny Sands zone to optimize the size for dredged sand beach nourishment.

Last week, after a long public discussion, they agreed to set the eastern boundary at property owned by the James R. and Charity Davis Trust. The eastern neighbors of that property, Gary and Susan Baker, say they haven't had erosion problems and don't need to be in the district.

However, this week, the resident to the east of Baker, Bob Consentino, told the commissioners he would like to have sand on his property and he would like the property included in the zone. Consentino, a consulting engineer who was traveling during last week's meeting, said he has been talking with the upriver port districts who own the property just east of him and they're planning to put sand on their land when they set up their operation to dispose of sand on the inside of the dike.

"I've been a proponent of putting sand on the beach since I heard of it," Consentino said. He added that he would be happy to work with the upriver courts on the county's behalf, and that he would cover certain costs.

"I don't want, at the end of the day, to be a low spot," he said.

The Bakers were present and repeated their desire to have their property excluded from the zone.

Commissioners said they would discuss Consentino's request with their consulting engineers, but they don't want to derail the effort to set up the beach nourishment program.

"If it's not going to hamper this, I don't see a problem, said Commissioner Dan Cothren. "If it's going to hamper this, I don't want to do it."