1916 Jetty – Damon Point | Oak Bay Starfish

Image above: July 6th, 2024. Looking over the jetty that connects to Damon Point on the far end. We are near the end of the jetty adjacent to the Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Jetty Adjacent to Damon Point

The jetty adjacent to Damon Point appears to be neglected/not maintained over the years. Anyone going down there to walk at Damon Point will see this. The public beach access needs improvement.

Today, beach walkers moving toward the water from the parking area at Damon Point are channeled to a choice between an eroded/unsafe former road drop-off and private property that is posted, telling walkers that they are not welcome.

Image above: Taken on July 6th, 2024 from the public access trail adjacent to the Ocean Shores Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Priorities are in place (as they should be) and so is this armor-plated bulkhead.

Has any priority been established for maintaining the Damon Point/Ocean Shores Marina end of the jetty?

Significant History

1916 – Jetty adjacent to the public parking area at Damon Point is installed. Apparently, no maintenance has been done on this part of the jetty since 1916.

In the news:

Nov 2, 2023 The Daily World

A 100-year old jetty used to protect Ocean Shores. Can new technologies save its south end?

“In 1916, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed the construction of Grays Harbor’s North Jetty, a three mile-long berm of boulders jutting into the Pacific, hugging and holding the entire southern shoreline of Ocean Shores. The body of water now known as Oyhut Bay did not exist.”

Grays Harbor did not encroach inland of the 1916 jetty?

Sept 16, 2024 FOX13 Seattle

Ocean Shores battles erosion crisis as WA shoreline vanishes, homes at risk

“…in a race against nature as erosion from the ocean threatens to destroy homes and infrastructure.”

“Marshall believes a solution could lie in restoring an old jetty built more than a century ago, but the cost could reach $60 million — a significant investment that would come with bureaucratic challenges.”

“…the future of Ocean Shores remains uncertain.”

Race against nature, but the original jetty adjacent to public parking at Damon Point has not been maintained in 108 years? Love to see newspeople ask questions on this.

State Park

At some time in the past, a WA State Park was located at Damon Point. This is no longer the case:

Photo above: Nov 12, 2023 – No mention of a State Park

Looks like WA DNR, at some time in the past, took over what once was Damon Point State Park.

From Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

“Damon Point was once Protection Island, a sandy shoal at the mouth of Grays Harbor, separated from the town of Ocean Shores by a channel of water.”

“During this period, Damon Point was a state park, with a paved road extending 2 miles out to the end of the spit.”

No longer Here – Ferry to Westport – Fell Apart on the Ocean Shores Side

Ocean Shores to Westport: Remembering the El Matador Ferry
By Douglas Scott

“Separated by less than two miles as the crow flies, traveling between Westport and Ocean Shores should be a quick excursion, but the drive is an hour long between the two seaside towns.”

“Sadly, the ferry service shut down in 2008, but not due to lack of popularity. While the ferry service had seen closures in previous years, the service would always pick back up and be celebrated by residents and visitors alike. Sadly, after too much sand and silt built up around the Ocean Shores marina, the El Matador was forced to cancel trips across the harbor. What was once a family-friendly boating experience and adventure across the harbor is now relegated to fond memories.”

Imagine telling the fishing boat captains over at Westport that their access to a 100 year old armor-plated harbor was going to be let go because too much sand and silt built up around the marina.

At Damon Point, Ocean Shores once had an active marina with a restaurant, cocktail lounge and salmon charter boat outings. The Silver King Motel was there too.

Ocean Shores Marina History – A Time Gone By

Different story over at Westport

“…less than two miles as the crow flies…”

Concerns Re: tsunami zone, global warming, sea level rise, climate crisis, king tides, coastal erosion, El Niño/La Niña and winter storms do not get in the way of keeping things maintained on the working waterfront at Westport. Well done.

Above: Posted near the Westport Light Trail, a description of how the jetty on the Westport side has been maintained over the years.