Project Lead:  Lynne Wenberg-Davidson

Project Partners: Northwest Straits Foundation, State Parks, Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group, Skagit Conservation District

Project Years: 2014 - 2026

Project Overview: Bowman Bay is a pocket beach located in the Whidbey Basin at Deception Pass State Park. Hard shoreline armoring was placed along the shoreline prior to the 1970s to protect a former fish hatchery that has since been dismantled. The riprap was impeding sediment transport processes at the site resulting in the coarsening of beach sediment and degradation of nearshore habitat.  The Skagit County Marine Resources Committee partnered with the Northwest Straits Foundation, Skagit Conservation District, and Washington State Parks to remove approximately 540 feet (1,600 tons) of armoring from the Bowman Bay shoreline. Construction was completed in November 2015. This project helped restore natural sediment transport processes and improve approximately 0.6 acres of nearshore habitat for forage fish, juvenile salmon and bull trout. The restored resilience to the ecosystem also allows for lateral shifts in seagrass beds in response to sea level rise. In addition to the ecological benefits, removing this armoring improved access to the beach for kayakers and other park visitors. 

Riparian Planting:  The Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group (SFEG) developed and implemented the riparian planting plan of the upper beach area. The Northwest Straits Foundation continues to maintain the plantings in partnership with the MRC and with the help of volunteers.

Check out the Bowman Bay Restoration Video 

BEFORE RESTORATION:

AFTER RESTORATION:

Nearshore Habitat Restoration Monitoring:  Trained volunteers conducted pre-construction monitoring to collect baseline data and post-construction monitoring to assess habitat changes. 

Photo Below:  Bowman Bay beach seining with volunteers and Northwest Straits Foundation staff

Bowman Bay 10-Year Beach Seining Report:  Juvenile Salmon and Nearshore Fish Use Responses to Beach Restoration at Bowman Bay, Skagit County report prepared by Northwest Straits Foundation

Interpretive Signs:  Two interpretive signs were installed in the fall of 2016 to help educate the public about the value of nearshore habitat and benefits of removing hard shoreline armoring.