It now appears that the states shorelines are beginning a long term erosion phase in response to this reduction of sand supply. The management of Washington States beaches is at a crossroads. Fundamental and irreversible erosion has begun. Lessons about shoreline armoring learned from New Jersey a hundred years ago are not being applied here. The first beach-destroying seawall was built on a Washington open ocean beach in1996.
Action is needed now to save the beaches for future generations.
Hosted by consultant Harry Hosey the meeting included representatives from Pacific and Grays Harbor Counties, the cities of Ocean Shores. They recommended that some of the money for the USGS-Ecology joint program be directed to Hosey. The future of coastal management is completely controlled by a single contractor. The contractor can be expected to respond, at best, to the immediate needs of coastal dwellers, with little concern for the larger and longer term picture of preservation of the beaches for future generations. Hard stabilization eventually destroys beaches.