Island Beach Access

Universal Accessibility News

Clinton Beach Park

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Beach Status Update

February 2022

As you can see by the photos below, Clinton Beach has suffered an unfortunate environmental blow following the blockage of healthy tidal flows by a sandbar that developed on the south side of the ferry causeway under the ticket booths. The resulting reduction in daily currents that typically prevent large-scale timbers from permanent beaching has created a literal logjam all across Clinton Beach.

For the last two years IBA has partnered with the Port of South Whidbey to have the sandbar materials redistributed and the vast amount of the logs removed in accordance with appropriate environmental impacts. Several state agencies including WSDOT, Clinton Ferry Terminal, Dept of Fish & Wildlife and the Dept of Natural Resources, have been asked to expedite the required approvals and actions necessary to achieve the goal of returning Clinton Beach to its former state.

IBA hopes that access to the beach can be regained in the next year or so, but there are many variables and impacts to consider. Until such time, there is very limited access to the water’s edge, and it could actually be considered risky to traverse the of barrier of logs for anyone.

In the meantime, IBA is pursuing a new project at Robinson Beach with the addition of a permeable stone paved parking area and over 100 feet of mats to allow for mobility challenged access all the way to the water’s edge. The West Side Whidbey Rotary Club has generously agreed to help sponsor this endeavor with funding and labor support. For now, many of the mats designated for Clinton Beach will be used for the Robinson Beach project.

Once again, we thank all our sponsors for their continued support of this as well.

As you know, we are a volunteer manned and funded Washington State not-for-profit and our resources depend on you. Please donate what you can and remember that with the assistance of WILST (Whidbey Island Land & Shore Trust), your donations are tax deductible. To see the Washington Secretary of State Not-For-Profit registration for WILST, click here.