||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS |||
San Juan County’s Environmental Stewardship Department is conducting repairs on a sea wall near the MacKaye Harbor dock area on Lopez Island.
Construction was initially scheduled for October 29, however, crews discovered surf smelt on the beach shortly before construction began. This discovery prompted a delay to the repair effort.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (WDFW) permit requires that there be no detectable forage fish eggs in a shoreline worksite for work to proceed. The County will conduct additional sampling for forage fish eggs on November 8 and the results of that sampling will confirm whether or not the repairs can take place as scheduled on November 12.
“While this may seem like a huge inconvenience, the discovery of surf smelt eggs at the MacKaye Harbor marine facility means that our shoreline restoration at the site has been a success,” said Marine Project Manager Dr. Frances Robertson.
In 2022, the Environmental Stewardship Department undertook an effort to remove rocks from the shoreline and improve the habitat conditions at the beach for surf smelt, a small bait fish that lays its eggs in the beach substrate. Waiting for the area to be free of eggs before starting a construction project helps to further protect this mighty little fish from any unintended impacts associated with the repair.
The MacKaye Harbor dock and the boat ramp on Norman Rd will now be closed to the public on Tuesday, November 12 from 7:30am to 6:00pm. The repairs are anticipated to take one day, and the dock and ramp will reopen on Wednesday, November 13.
During this closure, the public is encouraged to use the docks and ramps located at Odlin County Park and Hunter Bay.
Work crews will be repairing the sea wall to prepare for the upcoming King Tides expected this winter. The repair will help minimize erosion to the bank while protecting the shoreline trees. In the event repair work is again impacted by presence of forage fish eggs, weather, travel logistics, or other unforeseen obstacles, the work will continue with the next available tidal window.
About San Juan County’s Department of Environmental Stewardship
San Juan County’s Department of Environmental Stewardship is responsible for solid waste, marine resources, clean water, cultural resources, and climate and sustainability work. The department offices are located at 1609 Beaverton Valley Road, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. For more information about San Juan County’s Department of Environmental Stewardship, visit www.sanjuancountywa.gov/
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