New Shoreline Protection at Point Deroche
The new rock-slope shore protection was designed by nationally recognized experts in coastal engineering and was subjected to a rigorous permit review process. The project is in complete compliance with permits issued.
The old house footprint, septic systems and decking were built elevated on an artificial infill of local material, near the edge of the previous vertical creosote-timber and concrete rubble seawall system. The entire area at the top and rear of the old seawall system, encompassing the house, guest cottage, and swimming pool, were disturbed areas with built structures. This area was not in a natural state at commencement of construction.
The frontage of the new rock-slope shore protection along the beach is similar to the frontage of the old vertical and visually imposing seawall system, installed by the previous owner.
The new rock-slope shore protection has a slightly smaller footprint on the shoreline but it slopes inland towards the house location over a longer distance as it was designed to naturally slope. It is no longer a seawall ‘system’ of various composition, including manufactured and construction-waste materials. Of significance, please note the slope of the new shoreline is entirely located south and landward of the old seawall, in the area of the disturbed site where the old house was located.
The new rock-slope shore protection toe-stone is located a minimum of 3 feet inland of the vertical creosote-timber face of the old seawall system; and at an even greater distance where concrete construction-demolition rubble had been placed in several areas outside of the former vertical timber wall. There is more space and improved sight-lines for beach walkers to walk around the new rock slope shore protection than the vertical wall and concrete rubble that existed previously.
The Section profile comparison shown clearly illustrates the location of the removed creosote timber wall (the old seawall), the locations of the old and new dwellings, and the location of the new rock slope shore protection.
The planned restoration and naturalization of the site, to commence in 2023-2024, will cover many of rocks visible in the drone images that have been widely circulated in the media.
Long Term Site Restoration Plans
The Conservation and Restoration site plans for the property are currently well under way. The plans are being prepared and stamped by an APALA licensed landscape architect. Restoration would commence on site in 2023, with the arrival of appropriate weather for planting.
The strategy for restoration includes the planting of indigenous and salt tolerant riparian and emergent aquatic plant species, found naturally in the local natural dune and shoreline ecology. The intent is for the selected plants to assist with: further stabilizing and naturalizing the embankment; reducing erosion and introducing habitat for dune, shoreline and aquatic species (food, nesting sites and shelter); boosting soil quality; and increasing biodiversity. Native soils excavated for construction, have been stored on site, for use in restoration and planting around the property. The strategy also involves the addition of boulders and logs in strategic locations to assist with the mitigation of element driven erosion, typically in the form of wind and wave action.
The planting and restoration goals of the project are to restore the landscape as much as possible to its natural state, and to improve the resilience of the shoreline ecology. The site was chosen for its striking natural beauty, and every effort will be made to restore all areas of disturbed land to a more natural state, post construction of the home, with further efforts to be made towards long term conservation of the landscape. The intent is for the landscape to be low maintenance, and allowed to grow and evolve over time in a pattern of natural succession.
We would encourage those concerned to withhold judgement until the project is complete. The site is now fully raw, and it will look significantly different when restoration is completed.
