cityofoceanshores.com Update 09.2007

Real Estate Update
Hey everyone. It's a strange time in real estate out here on the beach. Some days the phone won't ring, unless it's a seller wanting to know why nothing's going on and then another day the phone won't stop and buyers are tripping over each other trying to find something. Such is real estate on the beach. Now that summer is over, however, it does feel like things are picking up and that's most likely because buyers who aren't out here on vacation are generally serious about buying something. Other than that, the entire North Beach area is still booming with new construction be it homes, condos or major developments.

* The Penthouse is underway!
Looking for some class down here at the beach? This developer from the Seattle area is putting together the finest condo project in Ocean Shores. Only drawback? He's only building a total of four units. The marketing comments are as follows: "It took a lot of bubble wrap but we found four of the Ritziest Manhattan Penthouses and shipped them out of the smog and onto the heavenly Washington Coast (the doorman was union so he stayed). Placed seaside along the Pacific Ocean, the Penthouses are like no other vacation home. Breathtaking views and luxury amenities make The Penthouses your escape from reality. Exceptional design and unprecedented attention to detail in every aspect & square inch! Live & entertain in STYLE!" Click HERE to see the listing info.

* Strong Summer Sales Lead Seabrook To $50 Million Mark!

Proud new Seabrook homeowners have discovered what many beach loving folks are quickly finding out... Seabrook is a truly unique and special place, unlike any other beach destination on the Washington coast! As summer gives way to spectacular fall colors, Seabrook is enjoying a record year of sales and growth with total sales nearing $50 million dollars! Progress continues on Seabrook's first retail establishment, Café Tashtego as well as the beautiful amphitheater which boasts stunning views of the ocean! To arrange a tour of Seabrook, send me an email and come see for yourself why Seabrook will be the most admired destination on the Washington Coast. Click HERE to see a Seabrook Home.

Upcoming Events
* Whale of a Quilt Show - October 12-14
Sea-Gals Quilters show offers vendors, handmade quilts, demonstrations and quilted items. The show is judged and prizes awarded. Free admission at the Convention Center...

* Grays Harbor Idol VII
Auditions start Friday, October 5th at 9 p.m. and again on Tuesday, October 9th at 8 p.m. at the Quinault Beach Resort & Casino (78 St. Rt. 115). Twenty contestants will be chosen to compete every Friday at 9 p.m. from October 12th through November 16th. Contestants must be 21 years old.

News
* Ocean Shores Clam Population is up! "Overall razor clam populations are down from last year, and the news is mixed," said Dan Ayres, the head state Fish and Wildlife coastal shellfish biologist. "Some beaches are up and some are down. Kalaloch has had a real decrease, and we won't be offering any harvest there." Marine toxin levels on all beaches were virtually non-existent. State Fish & Wildlife is currently conducting public meetings for input on the upcoming razor clam season. As soon as the season is announced, it will be published on http://www.cityofoceanshores.com/.

* Ocean Shores is winning the Weed Battle! After only four months of treatment, the city's freshwater weed eradication program is getting rave reviews from city officials and residents. Miles of canals that were previously inaccessible are now open for boat traffic. Fishing conditions throughout the 23 miles of fresh waterways are improving, and more tourists are renting boats for afternoon cruises. The city's trademark canals fell victim to invasive weeds such as Brazilian elodea and Eurasian milfoil after years of failed maintenance programs. Last spring, the City Council authorized a $400,000 herbicidal treatment program that has killed more than 95 percent of the problem weeds, according to Public Works Director Ken Lanfear. "The result has been more than pleasing," he said. "This canal system we've got here is unique for the Pacific Northwest, and it's a resource that we want to maintain and protect."-the Daily World

* Don't Do This! A couple drove their RV "way, way out onto the beach at low tide and got stuck," according to Gary Murdoch, the chief at Fire District 8, which covers the Pacific Beach area. The couple parked their motor home Monday night to go for a walk with their dog. When the motor home didn't start up again, they went to bed only to be awoken to the home being rocked by the surf. A Coast Guard swimmer from the Astoria-based helicopter rescued the couple and their dog at around 2 a.m., Scott said. There wasn't much concern about the RV being sucked out to sea because the backend became bogged down in the surf as a result of the tidal action. The couple later had the RV towed away.

Jeff Daniel

Designated Broker
Coldwell Banker Ocean Beach Properties

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Ocean Shores winning weed battle

After only four months of treatment, the city’s freshwater weed eradication program is getting rave reviews from city officials and residents.

Miles of canals that were previously inaccessible are now open for boat traffic. Fishing conditions throughout the 23 miles of fresh waterways are improving, and more tourists are renting boats for afternoon cruises.

The city’s trademark canals fell victim to invasive weeds such as Brazilian elodea and Eurasian milfoil after years of failed maintenance programs. Last spring, the City Council authorized a $400,000 herbicidal treatment program that has killed more than 95 percent of the problem weeds, according to Public Works Director Ken Lanfear.

“The result has been more than pleasing,” he said. “This canal system we’ve got here is unique for the Pacific Northwest, and it’s a resource that we want to maintain and protect.”

450 acres treated
Beginning in April, Northwest Aquatic Eco-Systems Inc. treated parts of the canals with diquat, a fast-acting herbicide. Duck Lake was treated with fluoridone, an herbicide that works more slowly, ensuring that all the weeds didn’t sink to the bottom, creating an oxygen-starved zone as they decay.

The treatments continued throughout the summer, and one last application is scheduled for October to take care of some expected fall growth.

With more than 450 surface acres of treated water, the Ocean Shores project is the largest freshwater treatment program in the state this year, Lanfear said.

“Now we’ll have to talk to the council about finding some money to maintain the program ... and that might be difficult,” Lanfear said. Since the canals are part of the city’s storm drain system, maintenance funds would come from the city’s storm drain utility fund, which is already strapped for cash.

With more room to roam, motorized boats have been exploring the uncharted territory of the Grand Canal’s offshoots, known as the Bell Canal and the Bass Canal.

Nancy Kimzey of the Ocean Sores Electric Boat Co. said her business is much improved.

“People are renting more boats, but they spend less time on the water because they don’t have to stop and put the engine in reverse to spin off the weeds,” she said. “It’s just so much nicer to be out on the water now. We’ve been in the Bell Canal two or three times now, and it’s in great shape.”

Without weeds to snag lines and cloud the water, fishing in the waterways has improved.

“There’s been a real improvement in fishing, especially on the waterways of the Grand Canal,” according to Bob Rhoades, president of the Ocean Shores Fresh Waterway Corp., an all-volunteer group dedicated to protecting the fresh waterways.

“This should have been done a long time ago, and we can’t hit it once and forget about it for another 10 years,” he added.

Even the state Department of Fish & Wildlife has noticed the improvement, and has pledged to plant more fish next spring.

“They’ve looked at what we did here, and the result is a commitment to at least double trout plantings,” Lanfear said. “I think we’re going to develop a first-class year-round fishery here.”

Both Lanfear and Rhoades said the city must now look for more public access to the canals and lakes.

The city restored a fishing dock at the south end of the Grand Canal, and built a new access point on Lake Minard. Lanfear said he’s looking at both sides of the Weatherwax property, which straddles Duck Lake, for more public access.

“If we can develop a trail system in the Weatherwax to give us access to the bank of Duck Lake, we could have prime spots for people to fish off the bank,” the Public Works director said.

By Jordan Kline - Daily World writer

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