The sands of time have shifted from the hourglass to poly bags that will soon be strategically placed along the La Conner waterfront ahead of king tide season.

Facing an Oct. 1 deadline to install sandbags and ecology blocks in areas prone to flooding, the La Conner Town Council last week approved purchases of equipment and barriers designed to thwart the high-water damage that plagued the town last December.

The council, acting upon recommendations of the Emergency Management Commission, gave Public Works Director Brian Lease the go-ahead at its Sept. 12 hybrid session to buy ecology blocks,...