PORTLAND, Ore. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will begin annual maintenance dredging at the mouth of the Columbia River Aug. 22. Dredging operations managers say commercial and recreational fishermen should be aware of the start date in order to ensure no fishing equipment is damaged within the dredge material placement sites.
The corps has three placement sites near the mouth of the Columbia River, including one shallow water site and one deep water site; both are sites designated by the Environmental Protection Agency. There is also one site near the north jetty that is a designated Clean Water Act site.
Dredging is expected to continue through October, depending on site conditions. Shoaling in the navigation channel has been lighter than normal this year due to the high flow conditions along the Columbia River system.