MARROWSTONE ISLAND — A state Department of Natural Resources official estimates 130 tons of creosote-tainted wood debris was removed from the Fort Worden and Fort Flagler beaches last week.
“It was a lot more than we were expecting,” said Lisa Kaufman, manager of the creosote wood removal project.
“When you get out there and begin to actually stage the material you can get a lot more than you originally thought when you go out and just glance at it.”
Kaufman said most of the wood now sits in piles at the sites while state officials continue the process of cutting the wood down to a manageable size for disposal.
“For right now, that is it, in terms of actual cleanup in the area,” she said.
“The cleanup stage is done.”
Last week’s helicopter-aided removal was another part of the state’s effort to clean up creosote pilings and debris along Jefferson County’s shores.
Kaufman said that about $800,000 in funding was provided through the Puget Sound Partnership for the Jefferson County cleanup of debris wood.
The state project aims to clean up Puget Sound by 2020.
Kaufman said removal of debris in Jefferson County was done for the foreseeable future, although investigation will continue into some other area beaches.
A group of Jefferson County Beachwatchers will continue to canvas the county’s areas and look for more creosote wood, which floats onto shores from elsewhere.
