Beach Monitoring – Tacoma Narrows Park

Beach Monitoring is one of Harbor WildWatch’s signature Participatory Science Programs where twice a year (summer & winter), we collect data from different beaches throughout the South Sound area. This information helps us determine how the beaches change over time and could be useful in determining the impact of a future natural or human induced event.

We meet in the parking area of the beach around the scheduled time to organize gear before heading out to our monitoring site (Usually 10-15min past the scheduled start time). See below for more detailed directions about the monitoring location. Participation with these special participatory science events gets you, your friends, and family directly involved with the protection of our local beaches and who knows, may even inspire future ecologists. Mark your calendar for any or all of these upcoming events. Remember, you don’t have to have a science background to participate, nor are you required to stay for the entire duration of the typically 3-4 hour program. All ages welcome.

For Summer Beach Monitoring we recommend that you are prepared with layers (it does tend to be cold at the beach), sun protection, snacks, hydration, and closed toed shoes (rain boots, water shoes, or old sneakers you don’t mind getting wet work great). Some folks like having a light pair of rain pants for keeping dry when we kneel on the beach but that’s not required.

Tacoma Narrows Park: Despite the name, this park is on the Gig Harbor side of the bridge. We will meet at the top of the hill at the scheduled start time to let you through the gate. Once past the gate, you’ll drive down the hill to the parking area. We will do introductions and organize gear in the parking area. If you arrive later, our monitoring site is down the beach in the opposite direction from the bridge. Walk down the concrete path to the beach and turn right to head down the beach away from the bridge. Our monitoring site is a ways down the beach but you should hear and see our lights. If you think you will be late, please email Stena ahead of time so she can coordinate further gate instructions.

This program is brought to you through a partnership between Harbor WildWatch and PenMet Parks. For more information about PenMet Parks, check out their website: https://penmetparks.org/
Contact Stena@harborwildwatch.org for information prior to the event.