West Sound Pocket Beach Restoration

The goal of the Family Tides Farm Beach Restoration Project was to restore a pocket beach and improve its functions as spawning and rearing habitat for forage fish and rearing habitat for juvenile salmon. To achieve this goal, project sponsors and partners removed a large creosote and rock bulkhead and associated fill, re-graded the bank slope and replanted nearly 1600 native trees and shrubs. The 0.3-acre project site is located along Orcas Island’s West Sound, which is one of San Juan County’s four priority forage fish spawning regions, as there are numerous documented Pacific herring and surf smelt spawning sites. The removal of extensive toxic creosote materials, as well as over 530 tons of bank and beach rock and fill, reconnected the sediment supply bank, backshore and riparian areas, unburied forage fish spawning habitat and provides rearing and prey benefits to the multiple species of juvenile fish known to utilize shallow waters near pocket beaches. This project was a partnership between Friends of the San Juans, Coastal Geologic Services, and the private landowners, who have committing significant resources to improving habitat conditions on their newly acquired estate. Additional actions undertaken by the landowners that are associated with, but not part of the SRFB tasks or budget include relocation of the primary residence from 40 ft. from the shoreline, to a new location over 160 feet from the shoreline. In addition, a large creosote dock, pier and pilings were replaced with non toxic and fully grated, light permeable materials. An educational video about the project was also completed; sharing the landowners story of planning for their families future and the health of the larger marine ecosystem.

Removal of a large creosote wood, rock and fill bulkhead restored a pocket beach for juvenile salmon and forage fish functions, including unburying intertidal beach and replanting riparian vegetation.