Diking District 1 has received an expedited permit from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to make repairs on the dike that serves the area.

The project deals with damage done to the dike from the winter storms. Diking District 1 Commissioner Tom Kraft says the district had a high tide event that drove over the dike and toppled rocks and removed dirt, making it unstable. He says the damage doesn’t require a large project, rather a routine repair job. This is the first design repair on the dike in “a few decades.”

Kraft and the district have enlisted Albert Gabelein, a contractor familiar with the dike who has worked on it for the last 40 years. The district estimates the project will cost $155,000.

“We have a 60 day window where we can access the dike to make the repairs,” Kraft said.

Diking District 1 covers the Sunlight Beach area from Useless Bay Avenue and Deer Lagoon area up to Highway 525.