The Future of Hidden Beach
This proposed project located on uplands and tidelands managed by the Washington Department of Natural Resources will restore over 750 linear feet of shoreline located north of Greenbank on Whidbey Island. Shore armor and debris include creosote-treated pilings, rock armor, concrete bags, and other materials that are infringing on and burying potential surf smelt and sand lance spawning habitat. Removal of the shore armor and fill could recover between 12,000 and 20,000 square feet of intertidal and backshore beach habitat. We look forward to working with DNR to make this shoreline restoration a success.
Restoring the intertidal zone allows surf smelt and Pacific sand lance to spawn in beach sediment currently buried under rock and fill. Revegetating the backshore and uplands with native vegetation and accumulation of large woody debris will help cool the shoreline and provide insects and cover for juvenile salmon. Combined, these zones will become interconnected and function as so much more than the sum of their parts.
Relevant Resources
Assessment: HIDDEN BEACH ASSESSMENT