South Beach – Grays Harbor County
Shoreline Change Analysis  

This project provided short- to medium term predictions (5 to 50 years) of future shoreline change in the vicinity of South Beach.  The project was formed at the request of, and in coordination with, the Coastal Communities Group of Southwest Washington and is an effort that has been identified by them as critical to their goals and objectives.  The work will assist local agencies in evaluating future projects and local land use planning.

The analysis includes the following:

• Compilation of existing and available topographic, bathymetric, and aerial photography data;

• Review and analysis of historical trends in shoreline change;

• Development of appropriate criteria and methodology for predictions of shoreline change; and

• Shoreline change predictions.

The project includes analysis of different data types, including recent beach profiles, surface map topography and nearshore bathymetry collected during 1997-2002.  Also, shoreline locations from 1886-1999 derived from aerial photography and scanned maps and charts are analyzed (See Graphic - Click for Larger Version).  The time period studied is 1886 to the present. 

Results were published in a technical report available for download below:

PI Engineering South Beach Shoreline Change Analysis

Shoreline Change Report Appendix

Return to Projects Page