U.S. Corps' Essayons back on the river for annual dredging program

The Corps recently awarded a contract for additional maintenance dredging of the Columbia River, including the mouth, to Great Lakes Dredge and Dock. The contractor will begin dredging in conjunction with the Essayons when its dredge is available in the area.

The Essayons will deposit material from the mouth at the Shallow Water Ocean Disposal Site, located oceanward of the north jetty in the vicinity of Buoy 7, and the Deep Water Ocean Disposal Site located six miles off the mouth of the Columbia River. The contractor's dredge will also use the North Jetty Disposal Site located just south of the north jetty.

"It's important for boaters, fishermen and local residents to know when and where dredging will occur so the chances of interference are minimized," said Doris McKillip, project manager for the Corps' Mouth of the Columbia River project. "Our dredge captains have always appreciated the cooperation they receive from the crab fishing community, and their efforts to move crab pots out of the disposal and transit areas."

The navigation channel at the mouth of the Columbia River is located between River Mile -3 and River Mile 3, where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean. The deep-draft navigation channel extends from the mouth of the Columbia River, upstream to Vancouver, at about River Mile 106.

Each year the Corps dredges the navigation channel at the mouth of the Columbia River to the authorized depth of 48 feet for the inbound lane and 55 feet for the outbound lane, and maintains the deep-draft navigation channel in the river to the authorized depth of 40 feet.