Community Meeting about Lowman Beach Park seawall next Wednesday, May 31, 2017

May 25, 2017 by Leave a Comment

NEWS RELEASE
Edward B. Murray, Mayor
Jesús Aguirre, Superintendent

For Immediate Release: May 25, 2017
Contact: Karen O’Connor, 206-233-7929
karen.o’connor@seattle.gov

Community invited to Lowman Beach Park seawall meeting

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) invites the community to the Hall at Fauntleroy at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 31 to learn about the Lowman Beach Park seawall and provide input on design options. The Hall at Fauntleroy is located at 9131 California Ave. SW.

Lowman Beach Park is a neighborhood park on the water located just north of Lincoln Park at 7017 Beach Dr. SW. At this meeting, SPR will present the project background, analysis of the coastal processes (wind, waves, tides, sediment transport/littoral drift) and design options, as well as gather community input.

The Lowman Beach Park seawall is failing and needs to be removed or replaced. As visitors to the park have seen, the existing seawall is slowly falling over towards the water. It is SPR’s goal to remove the remaining seawall and continue the shoreline restoration work that began when the south half of the seawall failed in the mid-1990s.

We hired Environmental Science Associates (ESA) as a design consultant to undertake a feasibility study to look at options for removing the seawall, taking into consideration both the habitat benefits of the seawall removal and the coastal engineering ramifications of that seawall removal. Given the design constraints of the project, it is likely that the existing tennis court will remain in place.

For more information, please visit https://www.seattle.gov/parks/find/parks/lowman-beach-park. If you have questions about the project, or if you need an interpreter or accommodations please contact David Graves, SPR Strategic Advisor, at david.graves@seattle.gov or 206-684-7048.

Filed Under: Parks, Puget Sound

Coastal Flood Advisory early tomorrow morning

February 8, 2017 by Leave a Comment

From the National Weather Service:

Coastal Flood Advisory

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
742 PM PST WED FEB 8 2017

WAZ001-503-504-506-507-509>511-558-559-091145-
/O.CON.KSEW.CF.Y.0002.170209T0900Z-170209T1700Z/
SAN JUAN COUNTY-WESTERN WHATCOM COUNTY-SOUTHWEST INTERIOR-
WESTERN SKAGIT COUNTY-EVERETT AND VICINITY-TACOMA AREA-
ADMIRALTY INLET AREA-HOOD CANAL AREA-SEATTLE AND VICINITY-
BREMERTON AND VICINITY-
742 PM PST WED FEB 8 2017

...COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TO 9 AM PST
THURSDAY...

* COASTAL FLOODING...THE COMBINATION OF HIGH ASTRONOMICAL TIDES
  AND RELATIVELY LOW PRESSURE COULD PRODUCE MINOR FLOODING ALONG
  THE SHORELINES AROUND THE TIME OF HIGH TIDE EARLY THURSDAY
  MORNING.

* SOME AFFECTED LOCATIONS...PUGET SOUND...HOOD CANAL...THE
  ADMIRALTY INLET AREA...AND THE NORTHERN INLAND WATERS INCLUDING
  THE SAN JUAN ISLANDS.

* TIMING...WITHIN AN HOUR OR TWO EITHER SIDE OF HIGH TIDES. HIGH
  TIDES WILL GENERALLY OCCUR BETWEEN 4 AM AND 6 AM.

* TIDE INFO...LOW PRESSURE SHOULD RESULT IN TIDAL ANOMALIES OF 1
  TO 1.5 FEET ABOVE THE PREDICTED TIDES.

* IMPACTS...MINOR FLOODING DUE TO TIDAL OVERFLOW. LOW LYING
  AREAS NEXT TO THE WATER COULD SEE MINOR FLOODING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY INDICATES THAT ONSHORE WINDS AND TIDES
WILL COMBINE TO GENERATE FLOODING OF LOW AREAS ALONG THE SHORE.


Our highest estimated tide, not factoring the coastal flooding is predicted 
to be 11.96 at 4:34 a.m. With the coast flooding, it's estimated we can add 
1 to 1.5 feet to the tides.
Filed Under: Puget Sound

Barking Dog Report: High Tides and Wind

December 20, 2016 by Leave a Comment

This morning we’re waking up to raucous waves crashing on the bulkhead with spray flying over…and we’re still a couple hours from high tide (as I write this post). We think there’s pretty strong odds that we may flood…hence the “barking dog report” to warn our neighbors who might flood in these conditions too.

Here’s what we’re basing the report on.

Let’s start with the tides:

Add the Puget Sound Marine forecast with a Gale Warning in effect until 4:00 pm.

555 AM PST TUE DEC 20 2016    

GALE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON    

TODAY  SW WIND 25 TO 35 KT. WIND WAVES 5 TO 7 FT. A CHANCE OF  SHOWERS.

Factor in a high tide of 12.18 at 10.08 this morning. Right now (7:30 am), we are at about 8 feet and we have water and spray splashing over.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Puget Sound, Weather

NWS issues a Coastal Flood Advisory

December 19, 2016 by Leave a Comment

The National Weather Service in Seattle has issued a coastal flooding advisory.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SEATTLE HAS ISSUED A COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM TO 11 AM PST THIS MORNING. *

COASTAL FLOODING…HIGH TIDES WILL BE ABOUT ONE FOOT BELOW WHAT NORMALLY CAUSES MINOR TIDAL OVERFLOW THIS MORNING. HOWEVER, A STRONG FRONTAL SYSTEM PASSING THROUGH THE AREA AROUND THE HIGH TIDE WILL PRODUCE WINDY CONDITIONS AND WAVES UP TO 5 FEET. THESE WAVES MAY OVERTOP SEAWALLS AROUND TODAYS MORNING HIGH TIDE.

* SOME AFFECTED LOCATIONS…SHORELINES OF PUGET SOUND…

* TIMING…TWO HOURS EITHER SIDE OF THIS MORNING`S HIGH TIDE THAT WILL OCCUR BETWEEN 8 AND 9 AM PST.

* TIDE INFO…HIGH TIDE FROM TACOMA NORTHWARD TO FRIDAY HARBOR IS AROUND 8 AM…. THE TIDES AT ALL LOCATIONS WILL BE ABOUT 1 FOOT BELOW WHERE MINOR TIDAL OVERFLOW NORMALLY OCCURS.

* IMPACTS…WAVES MAY OCCASIONALLY SEND SEA WATER OVER LOWER SEAWALLS AROUND THE HIGH TIDE THIS MORNING. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… A COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY INDICATES THAT ONSHORE WINDS AND TIDES WILL COMBINE TO GENERATE MINOR FLOODING OF LOW AREAS ALONG THE SHORE.

Puget Sound Marine forecast has a Gale Warning until 9:00 am this morning being reduced to a Gale Watch through Tuesday afternoon.

 TODAY  S WIND 25 TO 35 KT EARLY…EASING TO 15 TO 25 KT BY AFTERNOON.  WIND WAVES 4 TO 6 FT…SUBSIDING TO 2 TO 4 FT IN THE AFTERNOON.  RAIN IN THE MORNING…THEN ISOLATED SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON.

 TONIGHT  SE WIND TO 10 KT…BECOMING S 15 TO 25 KT AFTER  MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS…BUILDING TO 2 TO 4 FT AFTER  MIDNIGHT. RAIN.  

TUE  SW WIND 20 TO 30 KT…RISING TO 25 TO 35 KT IN THE  AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 4 TO 6 FT. SHOWERS IN THE MORNING…THEN  SCATTERED SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON.

We do have extremely high tides right now with a 12.49 estimated at 9:24 this morning. Tuesday’s high tide is 12.18 around 10:00 am.

Wind Alert shows the stronger winds tapering down following the high tide and shows winds picking up again this evening and the wee hours on Tuesday.

Filed Under: Puget Sound, Weather Tagged With:

Bulkhead Bashing

December 12, 2016 by 4 Comments

a-shore-thingThe December 2016 issue of Seattle Magazine has an article written by Maria Dolan on the effects of bulkheads on the environment. I’m not able to find a link to “A Shore Thing” at the time of posting this, or I’d be sharing it with you now. 🙂  If you’d like to read it now, it looks like you’ll have to pick up the December issue.

The photo is what first caught my eye since it features Beach Drive homes on bulkheads by Mee Kwa Mooks. This spot is not far from where the City has been talking about replacing the eroding seawall along Emma Schmitz Memorial Viewpoint. Our intrepid reporter, Scupper, wrote about the seawall almost three years ago…which has had band-aid repairs at most.

The article talks about how homeowners should consider removing their bulkheads. I would guess that for many of  the homes along Beach Drive, this would not be a viable option, as most the homes don’t have enough land or are do not have a high enough bank to accommodate a shore.

It will be interesting to see what winds up happening to the deteriorating bulkhead along Emma Schmitz.

Filed Under: Bulkheads, Puget Sound Tagged With:

Highly anticipated Cyclone Donald not so HUGE

October 15, 2016 by Leave a Comment

 

Looked just like another beauty day on Beach Drive around 2:00

storm-2-oclock

Things began to change up a bit at 3:00 on the horizon and you could see the water starting to churn up on the other side of the Sound due to easterly winds…

storm-3-oclock

 

White caps starting to form just after 4:00 and the tide looks a hell of a lot higher than the tables suggest (11.9). I’m guessing that there’s a bit of coastal flooding adding to the height…

storm-4-oclock

 

First burst of wind at 4:40 and finally seeing the rollers coming in from Tacoma at 5:00…

storm-5-oclock

 

Almost 6:00 and only a few slurps over the bulkhead.Looks like we dodged a bullet as far as flooding is concerned on Beach Drive SW. Now it’s time to kick back & enjoy the show with a hot toddy.

Filed Under: Alki, Bulkheads, Puget Sound, Weather

Meet Beach Naturalist

May 6, 2016 by 6 Comments

Want to learn more about the marine plants and animals off the shores of Beach Drive? Meet trained volunteers with the Seattle Aquarium this summer for their “Meet Beach Naturalist” program. “South Alki” is off Beach Drive south the light house – just watch for the signs. Here are the dates.

2016 beach naturalist

Filed Under: Puget Sound, Wildlife

Reader asks about park bench replacement at Beach Drive & Jacobsen

March 11, 2016 by 3 Comments

A very popular rest stop at the south end of Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook took a tumble from corrosion back on February 23rd (shouldn’t have eaten that last bite). Neighbors and out-of-towners have enjoyed watching the scenery under the huge “Raptor Tree” that Eagle & Osprey often use to spy on prey. Love that tree!

IMG_5507

Appears that the 2 legged benches are all failing at the weld just under the bench. There a few more with the same design near the drinking fountain that had caution tape applied immediately after the Jacobsen bench toppled . The tape has since come off and the older benches still stand… barely

IMG_5551

 

The newer 4 legged butt rest looks like a much better design for being near the saltwater…

IMG_5552

 

As far as replacement, we reported a few years back on plans to rebuild that entire section of the deteriorating seawall. No bench replacement or additions were to happen until the seawall issue gets solved. Construction was intended to start last Summer but the design work was never finalized. A response from the Army Corp of Engineers back in November 2015 didn’t show much progress.

 Unfortunately I don’t have any updates at this point. We are still working through our feasibility phase process before we can move into final design.

I have a current email out to the Army Corp asking for any further progress & will update as soon as they respond.  Meanwhile, the storms keep pounding it and the park department continues to backfill the erosion.

IMG_5542

Picture above taken on the stormy morning of 3/10/16… photo below was furnished by a Beach Drive neighbor the very next morning. Park department workers mentioned that they really didn’t like parking their heavy equipment on the slumping strip of grass which precariously covers  the 54″ sewer line carrying 50 million gallons of sewage per day!

IMG_5549

Scupper, reporting for Beach Drive Blog

Filed Under: Bulkheads, Parks, Puget Sound, Safety, Uncategorized Tagged With: ,

National Weather Service issues Coastal Flood Advisory for Seattle

March 9, 2016 by Leave a Comment

The high tide I referenced in last night’s “barking dog” report has been bumped up to an estimated 14.3 feet at 5:38 am on Thursday morning. This coincides with gusts that are predicted from Wind Alert to have gusts up to 50 mph.

From the Coastal Flooding Advisory, issued at 3:12 am:

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SEATTLE HAS ISSUED A COASTAL
FLOOD ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 8 AM PST
THURSDAY.

* COASTAL FLOODING...MINOR TIDAL OVERFLOW IS LIKELY AROUND THE
  TIME OF HIGH TIDE TONIGHT.

HIGH ASTRONOMICAL TIDES...AUGMENTED BY UNUSUALLY LOW ATMOSPHERIC
PRESSURE...WILL LIKELY FLOOD VERY LOW LYING COASTAL AREAS.
FLOODING IS EXPECTED TO BE MINOR AND ONLY LAST A FEW HOURS AROUND
THE TIME OF HIGH TIDE.

THE TABLE BELOW GIVES TIME AND HEIGHT OF PREDICTED TIDES...THE
PREDICTED TIDAL ANOMALY DUE TO LOW PRESSURE AND OTHER FACTORS...
AND THE SUM OF THE PREDICTED TIDE AND THE PREDICTED ANOMALY.


STATION NAME: SEATTLE
DAY     TIME         PRED      ANOMALY     PRED + ANOMALY
THU     05:38 AM     12.44     ~ 1.9               14.3

Based on these predictions, we are pulling out our pumps today just in case we flood early tomorrow morning. It may be a good idea to check on your waterfront neighbors to make sure they’re aware of the potential flooding.

There is also a Small Craft Advisory in effect through Thursday afternoon.

Filed Under: Puget Sound, Safety, Tides, Weather Tagged With: ,

Sewer Line Leak off the shores of Beach Drive

January 24, 2016 by Leave a Comment

There was a sewer line leak reported two days ago at the pump station located near Constellation Park (also referred to by neighbors as “Constipation Park”). It is unknown the amount of sewage that was released into Puget Sound.

From King County:

King County utility crews are working quickly this morning to repair a sewer line leak near the 63rd Avenue Pump Station, which is located at 3535 Beach Drive S.W. in Seattle.

The small leak was detected last night in a 42-inch pipeline that pumps wastewater from homes and businesses in West Seattle to King County’s West Point Treatment Plant in the Magnolia neighborhood.

An undetermined amount of wastewater overflowed out of the pipe and into Puget Sound. To protect public health and safety, crews quickly initiated cleanup and posted warning signs to keep people away from affected areas.

Construction workers will be on site this morning to repair the pipeline.

King County reported the overflow to health and regulatory agencies and will monitor water quality over the next several days.

 

 

Filed Under: Puget Sound, Safety
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