If you’re fortunate enough to own waterfront property in Western Washington, or are considering it, your private piece of shoreline and those dreamy views come with added responsibility. With more than 2,500 miles of shoreline, which includes Puget Sound, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the Hood Canal, Lake Washington, and a host of other saltwater and freshwater waterways, our region offers plenty of coveted waterfront residential property, but it’s also home to a huge population of fish, shellfish, and wildlife.
How does one live responsibly and respectfully on these bodies of water, while at the same time protecting the precious habitats these animals call home? And does it always require a bulkhead to create a hard barrier between your property and the water? Short answer: No. The Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife provides an easy-to-follow guide that offers natural and restorative approaches to promoting a healthy shoreline, which doesn’t necessarily involve a traditional bulkhead. In many cases, these vertical structures can be replaced with more functional, attractive, and environmentally friendly elements.
Here are a few examples of restorative approaches that not only keep your property safe from erosion, flooding, and exposure to the elements, but ensure that your home isn’t detrimental to the natural habitat. Check out the full guide from the Washington DFW for more comprehensive information, what steps to take on your specific type of property, when to involve a professional, and illustrations and photos of waterfront scenarios.
Add Vegetation
One of the easiest, most affordable techniques to install and maintain, adding vegetation will protect slopes by stabilizing the soil. Native flora that is well adapted to our climate makes for a particularly rich habitat for fish and wildlife. Choose plants with deep roots, like shrubs and trees. Consider consulting a landscape professional to create a planting plan that considers bank exposure and steepness, hydrology, and existing vegetation.
Use Rain Barrels
If you live on a bluff above the water, you may worry about erosion and landslide. One way to mitigate slope instability is to collect rainwater and reintroduce it over a large area, therefore reducing the amount of water that saturates the bluff during heavy rainfall.
Improve Drainage
Redirecting rainwater to the bottom of the bluff will help reduce the risks of erosion and landslide. Consider installing a drainage system that carries water to the beach or to a stormwater storage area.
Nourish the Beach
If your waterfront property has suffered from erosion, beach nourishment can help restore previous beach conditions. This involves placing sand and rounded gravel on the beach to reestablish an upper beach and backshore area, and to create a protective storm berm. When the waves hit this more gradually graded beach, the energy will dissipate, reducing the potential for erosion.
Recycle Beached Logs
Put those fallen trees that end up on the beach to good use. This woody debris, including root wads, can be relocated to the upper beach to mimic natural driftwood accumulation. Used in combination with beach nourishment and vegetation, this technique can further protect your site from erosion by dispersing waves, and trapping and building up sand. The logs also provide habitat and food sources for plants, animals, insects, and other shoreline species.
Reslope and Restabilize
Transform a steep, unstable bluff into a regarded, more stable slope. Follow this with replanting of native vegetation and you’ll have a space safer from erosion. Not only will this practice stabilize the bluff, but it will enhance aesthetics, water quality, and wildlife habitat.
Work with a Pro
To make the most of your waterfront space, and to ensure that your plans will actually minimize geological risk factors and benefit the natural habitat, it’s important to consult a professional. From arborists and botanists, from landscape architects to shoreline planners, from archeologists to geotechnical engineers, the PNW has plenty of experts to offer when you’re contemplating how to transform your property. The DFW guide outlines what type of professional you may need to work with and how to get started on that path.
Your Waterfront Will Thank You
Your actions as a waterfront homeowner are essential to preserving our region’s natural splendor for generations to come. No matter where you live, on the Puget Sound or a lake or river nearby, or whether you’re thinking of dipping your toe into waterfront real estate, your RSIR real estate advisor can help you wade through these choices for protective approaches to enhancing life at the water’s edge, for both you and the iconic PNW wildlife and marine life with which we share this special place.