Council’s handling of bluff problem eroding our faith
In the July 23 edition of the Anacortes American, city editor Elaine Walker reported that city staff are pleased with the “significant progress” made by Mr. Morand, aimed at preventing Anaco Beach Road from falling into Burrows Bay and taking a couple of homes with it. 

Apparently, the steps taken includes several yards of pea gravel (aka beach nourishing material), which has been dumped on the beach, some regrading of the access road that started the whole proble and some crushed rock deposited on the regraded road. 

I give credit to Mr. Morand for going beyond the resolution efforts that were proposed last month when the City Council encouraged him to do something to show that he is trying to solve the problem. Specifically, the council advised him to stick a bale or two of straw across the track of the cascading groundwater, which is an element of the erosion. The referenced news article indicates that the city is still waiting anxiously for Mr. Morand to install the straw, while commending him for the steps taken. 

Shouldn’t the city be stipulating the end result they expect, rather than what materials of mitigation should be used? I’m not an engineer, but it seems to me that straw is a less than effective deterrent of forces of nature and the folly of man. As I recall, straw didn’t work well for one of the three little pigs, and if a stream of water had accompanied the huffing and puffing, surely the pig’s house would not have lasted the short time that it did. 

Keeping with the pig analogy, I’ll venture a guess that Mr. Morand might have been a bit piggish when he attempted to turn a large but fragile chunk of land into a multi-home development. And perhaps the city was also, when they approved the development, in anticipation of permit fees and property tax revenues.

But to anyone wishing to take a stroll along the beach at low tide, it is obvious that this is a disaster waiting to happen, now that the vegetation has been removed and the substructure of the soil has been weakened. 

Perhaps the mitigation undertaken by Mr. Morand will help a bit. I’ll even give thanks to the straw, if big chunks of man-made stuff remain high and dry for the rest of the summer.

But what will happen come winter, when pounding winds, waves and sea spray resume their relentless battering of that bluff? Borrowing from the wisdom of an old adage, let us remember that “Bad Stuff Happens!” and happen it will, if not this winter, then the next!

It is time for Mr. Morand, the city of Anacortes and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to get serious about a true resolution to the problem, before the taxpayers have to foot the bill for re-routing Anaco Beach Road and for whatever lawsuits arise from the actions or inactions of those involved thus far. 

If the people who are responsible for this mess continue a costly, time-wasting dance, I’m sure I will not be alone in the category of angry taxpayers. 
Jack Arrington
Anacortes

Library, police got camera back to B.C. visitor
My husband and I recently visited your wonderful city. During our visit, I lost my digital camera.

I was crushed since I had not downloaded 1 1/2 years of photos and it was an expensive camera. People told me that I would not see my camera again, especially since I had no contact information in it.

However, some kind person turned it over to the library, which in turn gave it to the police, who in turn did incredible investigative work and determined that it was my camera. All of these amazing acts of kindness have made us love your city even more and we can’t wait to return.

Thanks to all the people who helped get my camera back to me. And yes, I have now downloaded my photos and put ID in my camera and I will never let go of it when I travel.
Jane Palmer
Campbell River,
British Columbia

Gribbles are gobbling up the Enchantress
We have been noticing the town yacht falling on hard times. Not only does Ecology want to bucket her out of the bay, but also gribbles are chewing away her topside planking at quite a click.

The recent Anacortes American article mentioned toredos — the scourge of the sea for wood boats before antifouling paint — as the reason for the decline of the Enchantress. Toredos are mollusks, with little clam-like jaws able to chew through wood and with tails extending back to saltwater.

Since they start small, it doesn’t take much of an opening to get them started. Once in the planks, they honeycomb long channels.

In April, five of us rowed out to the Enchantress to get more information. We picked a minus 2-foot tide to get a look at her bottom. Surprisingly the bottom was in pretty good shape; it’s the topsides, now the intertidal zone, that are going away with large sections of hull planking above the antifouling paint and the frames behind the planks largely absent.

We gave the samples of the topside planking to Dr. Brian Bingham at Shannon Point Marine Center for identification. Bingham confirmed the samples from the Enchantress were loaded with gribbles (Limnoria lignorum) and explained they were little crustaceans. He attached a photo he took so we could see what they look like and what they are doing to the wood.
David Jackson
Anacortes

Meat shop owner stepped in when freezer failed
From time to time, every person needs a hero. My husband and I found ours on Saturday, July 12.

As hubby was looking in the freezer for something for dinner, he was met with a brown mess oozing out — melting chocolate ice cream. Years ago, one could rent freezer locker space; however, that’s not an option today. Of course, the repairmen were not working on Saturday.

A kind lady at Anderson Appliance Services suggested calling butchers; however, three had closed at 3 p.m., and I received a recorded message from the fourth. Then our knight in shining armor, Paul Wiles of Anacortes Meats, called.

Although he normally closes at 6 p.m., he said he would remain open until 6:30. Since it was 5:40, we quickly unloaded our freezer, made a mad dash from Mount Vernon to Anacortes, and joy of joys, our partially thawed meats were saved.

We are indeed grateful to this kind man and his wife, plus we’ve found a great butcher in the process. Mr. Wiles did not want any compensation either.
Anne Gillett
Mount Vernon

Drive less and make a difference
Last week’s article by Terry Christiansen (July 23) was informative and largely on target, though I am not a proponent of nuclear power as it has too many long-term consequences. However, all of his suggestions will take time to create the desired effect.

Something that each of us can do, starting today, is conserve. Drive less, make your trips count, walk more, bike more and you will feel better knowing that you are making a difference starting today.
Steve Oakley
Anacortes