WAVES STORMS   EROSION What's happening Ocean Shores Ft. Canby Washaway Beach Westport Leadbetter Point dams jetties

Fort Canby has lost 260 acres Over the past 40 years, Fort Canby State Park has lost over 260 acres of land to erosion. By 2009, erosion could eliminate 30 to 90 of the park´s 180 camp sites, scientists with the Southwest Coastal Erosion Study predict. North of the park, the shoreline could retreat up to 2,000 feet. Shoreline changes Until the 1870s, the shoreline traced the rocky headlands of Cape Disappointment. Between 1914-1917, the North Jetty was built on the Columbia River. Following jetty construction, the Fort Canby shoreline grew seaward rapidly. By the 1950s, the Fort Canby area reached a maximum size of 964 acres. Since then, most of the shoreline has continued to erode. Erosion damage to park beach access road at Fort Canby, following winter storms, 1997. In the early 1900s, the North Jetty was built on Peacock Spit, a large shoal. Following jetty construction in the early 1900s, beaches north of the jetty grew seaward rapidly. During the 1950s, beaches north of the jetty began to erode. By 1958, Peacock Spit had eroded, accelerating erosion on Ft. Canby beach. As Peacock Spit disappeared, erosion increased on Fort Canby beach. In 1998, El Niño storm waves knocked out the foredune fronting the beach. Source: The Southwest Washington Coastal Erosion Study.   Images courtesy of: Brian Voigt Southwest Washington Coastal Erosion Study. A recent study of Washington's coastal processes and shoreline changes.   Fort Canby State Park, Washington State Parks Fort Canby State Park offers 27 miles of ocean beach, two lighthouses, an interpretive center and hiking trails.

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