Erosion threatens Cape Horn properties

The Cape Horn community has organized over concerns about a disappearing beach that is now threatening homes along the Columbia River.

It is sand that passing ships are washing away.

The residents are hoping the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which dredges the nearby shipping channel to allow ships to travel up the Columbia River, will send some of the spoils their way.

Instead, the Corps of Engineers sends the spoils to Brown's Island, an undeveloped island at the head of Puget Island. To add insult to injury, the spoils piled high on Brown's Island are well in view of the Cape Horn homes.

One homeowner, Trish Shroyer is quick to point out that this isn't about beach volleyball. They fear the loss of their homes.

Another resident, Jim Bennett, has been measuring the loss for years. It started small, a few inches here and there, but has begun to snowball, now averaging 10 feet a year.

"I lost four feet just in the last month of 2015," Bennett said.

Only six feet remains in a place that once stretched 168 feet to the water's edge.

"Every time we walk down the beach there are great big pieces of sod on the sand or floating on the water," Shroyer said of Bennett's property. "His fence is floating in the Columbia and hanging off the bank."

According to Bennett and Trish Shroyer and her husband, Randy, ships pass each other in the designated area in front of their homes, and regardless of traffic, the ships are moving at a good clip.

"There's no speed limit," they all agreed.

A ship went by before our walk along the beach. Some time passed before the wash rolled ashore at low tide. There was a lot of energy and it was easy to imagine the damage a fast moving ship could cause, especially when the tide was high, waves licking at the already weakened hillside.

"Everybody supports industry," Shroyer said of the ships. "Just put our beach back."

The beach below the Shroyer's home is mostly rocks now. When they bought the home a little over a year ago, there was some sand, but even that is mostly gone now.

"It's just a matter of another couple big boats going by before our stairs get knocked down and that's the only thing holding up our bank," Shroyer said.

Farther east in front of another home, which sits high above the beach, a tree has begun to lean, the soil pulled free from its roots. It won't be long till the water begins to work on the land directly beneath the house.

According to Shroyer, the community, minus one holdout, has organized and sent letters to senators. They've met with county Commissioners Dan Cothren and Mike Backman and taken them on strolls down the beach. They are trying to form an erosion control district and a flood control zone district.

"Eleven years ago, the community signed petitions, got approval, and for some reason the ball was dropped," Shroyer said. "The sand was approved to be brought here. I've never heard the real reason the sand wasn't delivered."

"Now these properties are in jeopardy. It's not just their lawns and trees and shrubs falling into the water but their buildings," Shroyer said. "Their outbuildings are falling, and their homes are next. Some of us aren't very far from the water, especially down here in West Cape Horn. It's imperative that somebody takes care of us, or what's the next thing?"

"We want to avoid lawsuits," she said after a pause. "I appreciate the county commissioners and I know that they are working on it."

On Monday, Wahkiakum County Commissioners met with the Corps of Engineers.

Now the Shroyers and their neighbors, knowing time is not on their side, wait to see what happens.