The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

To The Eagle:

In response to the two previous letters about my comments on the Watson house being in danger of being swallowed up by the encroaching Columbia River, I want to thank the writers for validating my point that putting sand on the beach in a never-ending attempt to stem the erosion simply does not work.

A solution exists: Since all the land covered by dredge spoil is claimed by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), it should be the legal responsibility of that agency to protect the buildings on it. They claim the land, they have the funds, and the obligation to do so. I own property on East Sunny Sands Road. I do not wish to contribute $1,000 a year or more to finance a plan to purchase a permit to replenish the beachfront again and again. The sand simply washes away after each attempt.

And yes, I was misinformed. The total cost to repair and extend the piledike (we called them jetties) would certainly be in the many millions of dollars, if permits can be obtained-- probably exceeding the total value of all the homes on the East Sunny Sands Road. I want no part of it.

Richard Carlsen, Puget Island