Emergency Boulders Deployed as Ocean Shores Coastline Collapses
City administrators moved large rocks to shorelines near homes and critical infrastructure after storm erosion accelerated damage along the Pacific coast.
By Chinedu Schneider ·
Storm-driven erosion has stripped away the coastal buffer in Ocean Shores, Washington, prompting local leadership to declare a state of emergency.
Crews began placing large boulders along the beach on Thursday, November 12, to fortify defenses before high tides arrive later this month. The work targets the stretch of coastline near Marine View Drive, Neptune Way, Mariner Court, and Peninsula Court.
City Administrator Scott Andersen stated that while erosion has occurred for years, the deterioration has worsened dramatically in the last two years. He described a remnant jetty built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as dilapidated and broken down over decades. Without the structure, the Pacific Ocean now strikes that section of the city directly.
The immediate threat extends beyond residential properties. City infrastructure located just across the road is at risk, including a 1 million-gallon water tank, a pump station, and sewer lines. Andersen warned that the area will take a direct hit from the ocean during the upcoming king tides in November and December.
The city’s primary concern is the intrusion of saltwater into freshwater waterways. Andersen noted that if seawater breaks through, it will alter the local ecosystem. He explained that regulatory agencies previously denied permission for hard armor, preferring nature-based solutions. The city used smaller cobble stones for two years, but Andersen said this method is insufficient for a beach that faces waves head-on during southeasterly winds.
A separate issue affects utility services in the southern part of the city. A contractor damaged a main waterline, and the public works department is currently repairing the damage. In a Facebook post on Thursday afternoon, officials announced that every property south of Marine Drive would be without water service until the emergency repair was complete.
Officials are urging residents and visitors to stay away from the affected embankment, which has become unstable. The city is bringing in additional coastal engineers to extend the armoring to the west end of the city. This expansion would protect an FAA navigation station and homes adjacent to the Oyhut Wildlife Area, which is managed by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.
