FOLLOWUP: What happens to logs left on shore post-king tides?
(WSB photo, this morning)
Last week, we published photos of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers debris-recovery vessel at work off Alki, picking up some of the many logs left afloat after the king tides and heavy rains. So what about all the logs that went the other way, now strewn across park shores at beaches like Alki, or piled up like the ones above at Don Armeni Boat Ramp? We asked Seattle Parks, whose spokesperson Rachel Schulkin replied:
We have a plan to reuse as much of the driftwood as possible in the parks. Some to use as log and saddle replacements where needed. And if there are any interesting ones, they may be used for interest in shrub beds.
So far, we are just moving what we can out of the way where necessary. Such as Don Armeni, so the boat ramp is accessible (hence the pile farther up in the parking lot, which was moved last week by the heavy crew). And we will come back in February after we see the next round of high tides this month to start removal/relocation.
We also have plans to go onto Alki Beach to move and remove some of that driftwood before peak season, since so much washed up so far on the sand. But that must wait until the tides settle a little bit for the sand to be a little safer to get our tractors in.
The final round of major winter “king tides” is due January 22-26, with high tides around 13 feet, which is what last week’s high tides were supposed to be (but ended up higher because of weather conditions)
Is it possible for the public to bring a chainsaw and take pieces for their own use in gardens or landscapes?
Be advised if any of those logs are pier pilings or treated wood they are very toxic and are not good for the yard or fire places. Creosote is really bad stuff and its been leaching into the sound for decades now from many of the old piers around the region. We had an air quality problem at my work downtown on one of the piers where people were getting sick and it was determined that the creosote was breaking down in the pier pilings and creating naphthalene gas that was coming in through the plumbing of the facility. If its drift wood I say go for it but man oh man stay away from those pier remnants. https://www.dnr.wa.gov/programs-and-services/aquatics/restoration/creosote-removal
Yes! That is a wonderful idea and a great way for Seattle Parks to raise some money. Sell it by the linear foot!
Lucy. Probably not supposed to but betting nobody would stop you. Warning though that waterlogged wood will be hard on your chain.
We are lucky to have so much shoreline in West Seattle — but it can be good to have large wood on our beaches. NW Straits Foundation created a series of shore videos (funded by WA Estuary & Salmon Restoration Shore Friendly program) that help shed a little light on the importance of our nearshore — especially to the creatures that live in Puget Sound. Hugh Shipman explains how our bluffs and beaches form and why they are important habitat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CB4AkTZhJnU&t=113s Why shoreline armoring can be a problem in the face of climate change: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZAmPBAd_KI&t=143s Why is it important to connect the land and water? Our Salish Sea foodweb depends on it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9eWqIRpJLk&t=33s And native plants are key to our marine ecosystem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UsOWxh5xzY If we can learn more, maybe we can do better to steward this beautiful landscape (and adapt to rising tides).
Can we take this one home???
Lucy – yeas ago that is exactly what people did. I can recall families going down with their chain saws, especially on the south side, and getting wood to burn. I am not sure it is legal to do so anymore & you do need to be picky to not get creosote. It would be interesting to know if it is legal to gather wood at the beach now. Could WSB find out if it is legal to do so?
This particular one, a large weatherworn cedar whom I’ve come to call ‘Godzilla’ (from its dinosaur-like silhouette) has been slowly making its way northward along Constellation Park for the last couple of years, always coming to rest after a major tide event or storm. The topmost photo shows its last known position on the beach, just prior to last week’s wind. It’s apparently gone now, and I’ll miss seeing it on my almost-daily walks on Beach Drive.
That one always reminds me of the Kraken!
We call this log the dragon. On Tuesday it was on the beach was just south of the Alki lighthouse. We leaned against it to watch the orcas heading south.
Perfect now that we have a team of that name! Maybe it can be incorporated into something.I was also wondering about the legality of picking up wood. I’m too poor to own a truck (someday, although the prices for used trucks had tripled when I last checked) so I was wondering about picking up smaller pieces that i could carry by hand or maybe with my grocery wagon (Ames lawn cart, structural integrity down to 27%). I need a little driftwood to refurbish my beardie’s vivarium. And a couple little creative projects are wanting for driftwood as well.
Looks like the answer to your question is no.
See https://westseattleblog.com/forums-2/topic/driftwood-logs-on-the-beach/