CITY OF DES MOINES SHORELINE MASTER PROGRAM

Des Moines Shoreline Master Program
The WRIA 9 Salmon Habitat Plan (WRIA 9, 2005) notes that the prioritization and
implementation of marine nearshore projects in 2006 and beyond should consider findings from
two key studies currently underway and scheduled to be completed this fall and winter:
• Inventory and Assessment of Current and Historic Beach Feeding Sources/Erosion and
Accretion Areas for WRIAs 8 and 9 (Johannessen and MacLennan, 2005); and
• Habitat Prioritization in Marine Nearshore Areas in Support of Juvenile Salmonid
Growth and Survival in WRIA 9.
Both of these studies include the Puget Sound shoreline in Des Moines.
A recent restoration project illustrates a type of project that could be designed and implemented
in Des Moines. The following project description is summarized from the WRIA 9 website,
hosted by King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks:
(http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wrias/9/SRFB-seahurst-park-bulkhead-construction.htm).
The Seahurst Park Bulkhead Removal and Beach Restoration Project was
constructed between November 2004 and February 2005 at Seahurst Park in the
City of Burien. The park provides nearly one mile of Puget Sound shoreline,
habitat for rearing salmonids, including Chinook salmon. The park contained a
sea-wall or bulkhead, constructed in the 1970s. Since that time, beach elevations
in Seahurst Park have dropped three to four feet due to wave scouring and the
disconnection of the beach from primary sediment sources. These changes had
significantly degraded habitat quality for salmon and the organisms they depend
on, particularly forage fish. Led by the City of Burien and supported by the
WRIA 9 Forum, a $100,000 seawall removal assessment was prepared, funded by
SRFB and the City of Burien. Following this feasibility study, the bulkhead
removal and beach restoration project was developed. Led by the City of Burien
and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, funding commitments included $190,500
funded by SRFB, a $190,500 match by the City of Burien, and $707,000 from the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Implementation of the project included removal
of about 1,400 feet of failing shoreline armoring and beach nourishment
(importing sediment) in the southern portion of the park. Through reconnecting
the sediment supply, the beach will be naturally replenished. The project goal is to
restore self-sustaining nearshore habitat and ecological processes to avoid the
need for on-going human intervention. A series of pre-project monitoring reports
were prepared to document baseline conditions for topics such as beach
topography, eelgrass, benthic invertebrates, and forage fish use. Monitoring at
Seahurst Park was mostly funded by grants. The monitoring reports also
established post-restoration monitoring to quantify and evaluate the benefits from
the project.
Before and after photos from the project (compliments of Jim Johannessen, Coastal Geologic
Services):
Department of Ecology approval effective November 1, 2010
Adopted by City of Des Moines Ordinance No. 1502 47