News Release
| Release Number: | 07-113 |
| Dated: | 9/7/2007 |
| Contact: | Jennifer A. Sowell, 503-808-4510 |
PORTLAND, Ore. – Crab pots placed within the mouth of the Columbia River’s north jetty disposal site should be removed from the area, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced.
The Corps is currently placing material dredged from MCR channel maintenance at the 5,000 foot-long site, located from 200 to 1200 feet to the south of the north jetty off the mouth of the Columbia River, between Waikiki Beach and the end of the north jetty.
The crab pots could get buried when dredged material is placed at the site. The pots could also pose a potential risk to the dredge if their lines are caught in the propellers.
“We suspect the crab pots are from recreational crabbers,” said Doris McKillip, project manager for MCR channel maintenance. “The commercial crab fishermen have been very cooperative in regards to the placement of their crab pots during our use of the disposal site.”
The north jetty disposal site is a very important beneficial use site as it is replacing sand that is scouring out near the base of the jetty. The Corps will stop using the site on October 1 due to a juvenile crab migration that often occurs through the area at that time.