Board outlines Bass and Fishhook canal cleanups and clarifies tree‑removal permitting

The Ocean Shores Waterways Advisory Board discussed plans to clear access points and remove hazardous overhanging limbs in the Bass Canal and Fishhook Canal and clarified permitting thresholds for work near banks.

Board members said routine limb trimming and removal of overhanging branches can be done without a full permit if the work does not include full tree removal or bank‑profile alterations. One staff member explained that “if we're not doing a full tree removal... and you're just cutting limbs down, then we don't need to permit that,” but that “full tree removal requires that we follow our HPA guidelines” and submit photographs, pre‑clearing documentation and maps to Fish and Wildlife.

Why it matters: improper removal that changes bank profile or removes entire trees can trigger Habitat Protection Act (HPA) procedures and require state review, maps and mitigation steps. The board emphasized careful work that avoids stripping bank vegetation while still creating safe navigable corridors for boats and docks.

Board members agreed to produce a written scope of work for each site so volunteers or contractors understand whether the work is limb‑only or requires full tree removal and permitting. One board member said they would contact homeowners for temporary access to pull cut material to a trailer and that the public works director could supply a dump truck to haul debris once permission is secured.

Members discussed prior bids for tree services and a past operation in which a tree service worked from a barge provided by a freshwater waste contractor to pin logs to the bank and remove limbs. The board agreed that for larger removals the city will need advance notice so staff can photograph sites and submit required materials to Fish and Wildlife. No formal permit application or contract award was decided at the meeting.