Contact:
Kathleen Herrmann Catherine Higgins
Senior Planner Communications Specialist II
425-388-6414 425-388-3053
Kathleen.Herrmann@snoco.org Catherine.Higgins@snoco.org
Community Meeting to Seek Input on Beach Restoration and Maintenance between Port of Everett and Mukilteo
Snohomish County Public Works looking into feasibility and funding options of beach restoration projects including Howarth Park
EVERETT, Wash., September 3, 2016 – Public input is needed for next steps now that Snohomish County has completed beach restoration construction at six site locations between the Port of Everett and Mukilteo. The Nearshore Beach Restoration Project supports salmon recovery efforts and recently improved public access at Howarth Park with the creation of more useable beach area. Snohomish County’s Marine Resources Committee (MRC) is hosting a public meeting to gather input on the desirability of continued beach nourishment projects in the area and the feasibility of potential funding strategies.
The meeting will include a brief presentation on the current project, followed by an open discussion between neighbors, community members, and Snohomish County staff on future maintenance needs along the beach.
Those interested in becoming involved in the future of Howarth Park, and other beach sites in the project area, are also encouraged to attend the community meeting.
- Community Meeting
- When: Monday, September 12, 2016 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- Brief presentation to begin at 5:45 p.m.
- Where: Lions Hall- Forest Park
802 E. Mukilteo Blvd., Everett, WA 98012
Snohomish County Nearshore Beach Nourishment Project
Restoring beach habitat improves habitat for Chinook salmon and supports endangered species recovery efforts. The Nearshore Beach Restoration Project included removal of a rock revetment and placement of beach gravel at Howarth Park. In addition, finer beach sediment suitable for forage fish spawning (referred to as beach nourishment) was added to all site locations. Natural coastal processes, including storm events, will move the finer beach sediments along the shoreline and lower on the beach profile, providing habitat benefits beyond the area where it was originally placed.
About the Snohomish County Marine Resources Committee
The Marine Resource Committee’s (MRC) goal is to understand, steward, and restore the marine and estuarine ecology of the county. Appointed local citizens use science-based information to develop projects and help shape local and regional marine conservation policy. MRC members harness the dedication, creativity, and wisdom of county residents to complement ongoing government efforts to protect and manage our marine resources. There are seven MRCs in the Northwest Straits region of the Puget Sound. For more information, visit http://www.snocomrc.org/.
About Snohomish County Public Works
The Snohomish County Public Works Department employs approximately 600 staff members that develop and maintain county roads; control and manage surface water quantity, quality, and fish habitats; and oversee the recycling and disposal of solid waste. The department’s main office is located at 3000 Rockefeller Ave., Everett, WA 98201. For more information about Snohomish County Public Works, visit www.snohomishcountywa.gov/PublicWorks.
For more information about this project contact Kathleen Herrmann, Snohomish County Marine Resource Steward, at 425-388-6414 or Kathleen.Herrmann@snoco.org.