Herrera’s MacLennan joins Governor Inslee on Visit to Eelgrass Restoration Project at Larrabee State Park
Washington Governor Jay Inslee recently visited the eelgrass restoration project at Larrabee State Park. Joining him were representatives from Northwest Straits Foundation (NWSF), the project’s funding organization, Washington State Parks, Whatcom Marine Resources Committee, HF Sinclair, and Herrera’s Senior Coastal Geomorphologist, Andrea MacLennan.
Herrera has been involved in this shoreline armor removal and habitat restoration project from its early stages. During a spring kayaking trip at the State Park, Lisa Kaufman of NWSF and MacLennan observed the extensive rock covering the beach. After further research, they learned that the site was previously (over 100-years ago) the location of an old trestle that supported an electric trolley known as the Bellingham & Skagit Interurban Railway. The construction of the trestle introduced widespread armor, grading, and fill that was suction-dredged from the sub-tidal zone, leaving behind a 31-acre hole that is now too deep for eelgrass to grow. With the growing popularity of motor vehicles in the 1920’s, and years of battling a voracious wood-eating saltwater worm on the 4-mile trestle, the Interurban Railway closed after 18 years of service, leaving behind its legacy of impacts on the intertidal ecosystem.
Govenor Jay Inslee at the Larrabee State Park visit
Recognizing the potential for restoration, Kaufman began building partnerships with Washington State Parks and Department of Natural Resources’ eelgrass experts, with intent to achieve the restoration vision. MacLennan led Herrera’s investigation into the feasibility of restoring the beach, modeling how restoration would change wave conditions, and improve habitats currently buried under the rock. Her team developed designs to both improve nearshore habitats and reduce the persistent erosion degrading the beach. Using these models, Kaufman now leads the team in a unique collaboration between NWSF, Herrera, Washington State Parks, to secure the funding required to remove the shoreline armor and pilings and restore eelgrass back to this 1,300 foot stretch of the Park’s coastline.
MacLennan emphasizes the ecological significance of this work: “Eelgrass plays a vital role in our coastal ecosystems, providing habitat structure, and essential refuge and migratory habitat for out-migrating salmonids from the Skagit and Nooksack Rivers, as well as attenuating wave energy. Restoring the eelgrass habitat off-shore of Clayton Beach and the intertidal forage fish spawning habitat beneath the existing rock will enhance these valuable habitats and improve their resilience to sea level rise.” This restoration also aims enhance the marine riparian areas, currently dominated by invasive Himalayan blackberry and Scotch broom and address the persistent erosion along the beach. The restored beach will be more sustainable over time, optimize nearshore habitat conditions, and provide recreational value for humans as well.
MacLennan adds, “What excites me about this project is how it brings together diverse expertise to address a critical environmental need. Our partnership with State Parks, the Department of Natural Resources, and the Northwest Straits Foundation demonstrates how collaboration can drive meaningful change and set new standards for coastal restoration.“
The Larrabee State Park project exemplifies Herrera’s science+planning+design approach: combining scientific expertise with practical, nature-based solutions to address complex environmental challenges.
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