This map shows the project area in question between Chinook and the Astoria-Megler Bridge that is being eyed by the Pacific Conservation District. The project, which just won $450,900 in federal funding, is aimed at restoring coastal habitat and protecting public and private lands — including U.S. 101 — from the growing threat of flooding and erosion.

CHINOOK — A project aimed at restoring coastal habitat and shield a critical stretch of local highway from the threat of erosion and flooding has been awarded an initial tranche of funding from Uncle Sam.

The project, which is spearheaded by the Pacific Conservation District, was one of six projects in the state that won federal dollars from the National Coastal Resilience Fund, Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell and Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez announced last week. The conservation district received $450,900 with $16,200 being contributed in matching funds.

According to Jackson Blalock, PCD’s program manager for marine and estuarine resilience, the aim of the project is to address erosion and flooding from Chinook to the Astoria-Megler Bridge — including U.S. 101, public parks and ports, and private lands — by using “nature-based approaches that restore coastal habitat.”

Erosion control

The grant dollars will go toward a geotechnical assessment and the development of a preliminary design for erosion control to protect the highway and public lands from both present and future water levels.

“Highway 101 serves as a vital connector for our state, linking the entire West Coast to the [Olympic] peninsula. Its proximity to the shore makes it particularly vulnerable to erosion and rising sea levels,” Cantwell said in a statement.

The grant dollars come via the National Coastal Resilience Fund, a partnership between NOAA, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, U.S. Department of Defense and private companies to enhance fish and wildlife habitat and protect coastal communities. Funding for the grant program was greatly boosted by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that was passed in 2021, with $139 million being distributed to 94 projects throughout the country in this latest round of funding.

The conservation district intends to work with both the Ports of Chinook and Ilwaco to understand whether strategically placing their dredged material can help reduce hazards and improve habitats in the project area, Blalock said, along with providing potential economic benefits.

“Importantly, this is one step in a longer effort,” Blalock said. “These funds will allow PCD and consultants to meet with interested parties, analyze the coastal processes and habitats in the area, and develop conceptual designs that reflect this information. If there is momentum, we could then seek funds for a final design and construction.”

PCD previously installed large wood along the Chinook shoreline as part of an effort to reduce the impact of waves and build back an eroding beach. “This new project would build from earlier work, looking at a larger area, critical infrastructure, and more potential design ideas,” according to Blalock.

Result of workshops

The project was developed through a multi-year sea level rise workshop series focused specifically on Baker Bay, which was put on by PCD, Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership and Washington Sea Grants. The workshops brought together dozens of local community members, officials and stakeholders to brainstorm potential solutions to fight back against the growing threat to south Pacific County communities and ecosystems.

Rising tides will bring about storm surges that move higher and further inland, increasing the frequency of extreme events where 100-year floods could become more like 10-year floods. Sea level rise can also cause the land to erode or grow under certain conditions, and lead to the loss of mudflats and marshes, which provide critical habitat for species like salmon and are a buffer against floods.

“As coastal communities face rising sea levels and storm surges move further inland, we need to act swiftly to build long-term resilience. It’s about protecting critical access to Highway 101, coastal property, and salmon habitats — but it’s also about giving folks greater peace of mind,” said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez in a statement.