News Release
| Release Number: | 06-093 |
| Dated: | 7/3/2006 |
| Contact: | Mike McAleer, 503-808-4510 |
PORTLAND, Ore. -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposes to rehabilitate portions of the North and South Jetties as well as Jetty A at the Mouth of the Columbia River.
The Corps issued a public notice, CENWP-RM-E-06-3, on May 20 announcing a 30-day comment period for the draft Environmental Assessment. The Corps has extended the comment period until Aug 4. Interested parties are invited to comment on the proposed action. A copy of the notice and the Environmental Assessment are available on Portland District’s website at https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/issues/jetty.
Questions or comments regarding the Public Notice can be directed to Steve Helm, Environmental Resources Branch, at (503) 808-4778 or via e-mail at steve.r.helm@usace.army.mil or at the address below. Mailed comments must be postmarked by the above closing date and sent to: District Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineer District, Portland, Attn: CENWP-PM-E, P.O. Box 2946, Portland, Ore. 97208-2946. In your response, please refer to the above public notice number, title and date. Should no response be received postmarked by the above closing date, a “no comment” response will be assumed.
The purpose of the action is to rehabilitate portions of the North and South Jetties and Jetty A at the MCR, as well as the possibility of constructing jetty spur groins to protect jetty foundations from erosion. This action is necessary to prevent further deterioration and subsequent breaching of the jetties. A breach in one of the jetties would cause accelerated damage to the jetty and could result in increased sediment infill in the navigation channel. The Corps recommends major rehabilitation of portions of these jetties.
Additionally, the Corps will host a public informational meeting Monday, July 31 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Columbia River Maritime Museum, 1792 Marine Drive, Astoria, Ore.
The South Jetty and North Jetty at the Mouth of the Columbia River were constructed in the late 1800s and early 1900s to secure the Federal navigation channel through the ocean entrance to the Columbia River. Jetty A was constructed in the late 1930’s to divert the navigational channel away from the North Jetty sand shoal foundation. All of the jetties have experienced reduction in jetty length with loss of jetty heads and damage along the jetties over the years.