SEQUIM — Shoreline landowners of Clallam County are invited to attend a Living with the Coast workshop to learn about erosion management and alternatives to hard armoring from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 2.
Alternatives to hard armoring will be presented at the Guy Cole Convention Center, 202 N. Blake Ave. in Sequim.
The workshop is free, but preregistration is requested by calling 360-733-1725 or registering online at http://tinyurl.com/pdn-hardarmoring or www.nwstraitsfoundation.org.
The workshop is sponsored by the Northwest Straits Foundation in partnership with the Clallam County Marine Resources Committee.
A classroom-style presentation will allow time for questions, followed by a beach walk to see beach and bluff habitats and geologic processes.
Workshop topics include coastal and beach processes, how to manage beach and bluff erosion, alternatives to hard shoreline armoring, benefits of bulkhead removal or reduction and native vegetation for slope stability and habitat.
Workshop attendees can apply for free technical site visits and receive management recommendations by private consultants for specific properties.
Hard armoring is an erosion-control technique that uses hardened structures to stabilize the landward area of a shoreline.
Examples are bulkheads, concrete sea walls, riprap, jetties, groins, breakwaters and stone reinforcement.
When it doesn’t work well, it can exacerbate erosion seaward of the hardened structure, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Ocean and Coastal Resources Management Department.
Funding for the workshop is from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Natural Resources Marine and Nearshore Grant program.
Those unable to attend the workshop can learn more about site visits and technical support services by contacting Lisa Kaufman at kaufman@nwstraits.org or 360-733-1725.
