News Release
| Release Number: | 04-131 |
| Dated: | 7/12/2004 |
| Contact: | Matt Rabe, 503-808-4510 |
Public comments sought on repairs to begin in 2005
Portland, Ore. – The jetties at the mouth of the Columbia River are showing the effects of decades of Pacific winter storms. So much that the builders of the jetties are now saying its time to repair, and even rebuild the structures.
When the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built the jetties at the mouth of the Columbia River, it could not envision a time when more than $13 billion of trade would pass between the two rock structures.
Today, more than 100 years later, the economies of the Pacific Northwest and the nation rely on the valuable role the jetties play in maintaining a deep, reliable navigation route through the Columbia River bar, once known for its fierce conditions and reputation for sinking ships.
The jetties have endured countless fierce Pacific storms over the decades. Winter storms are responsible for the loss of more than one million tons of rocks and boulders. Since construction, the Corps has repaired the south jetty eight times -- the last repair took place in 1982, and the north jetty three times, with the last taking place in 1965.
Looking at the jetties, one couldn’t even imagine a force that could move the largest of the boulders – weighing in at close to 20 tons. But it is the loss of these “armor stones” that represent the bulk of the damage. Enough damage has occurred that today the Corps is saying the jetties may not be able to withstand even a moderate winter storm.
“Doing nothing is not an option,” said Norm Tolonen, project manager. “Not repairing the jetties would mean the eventual failure of either structure, which would lead to a subsequent filling in of the navigation channel.”
That concerns the Corps.
To address the problem, the Corps is proposing to perform immediate repairs on the jetties and a longer-term rehabilitation. On-site work could begin as early as spring 2005 and continue for two years. There currently is no schedule for the longer-term work.
To repair the jetties, the Corps would place about 30,000 tons of stone on the north jetty and 40,000 tons on the south jetty. Work would take place on the most severely damaged sections. The longer-term rehabilitation would require up to 300,000 tons of stone along the north jetty and up to 500,000 tons of stone along the south jetty.
During construction, access to areas near the jetty may be closed to the public for safety reasons. Closures will be coordinated with state parks representatives in both Oregon and Washington.
The Corps' draft environmental assessment, addressing the environmental effects of the proposed action, is now available for public review. To comment on, or to receive a copy of, this EA, write to: District Engineer, U.S. Army Engineer District - Portland, Attn: CENWP-PM-E (Cook), P.O. Box 2946, Portland, OR 97208-2946. A copy is available on the Internet at https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/issues/jetty/cms/home.asp. Written comments should be mailed no later than Aug. 9, 2004. Please refer to Corps ID number CENWP-PM-E-04-05 in any correspondence.
The Corps will hold an information-sharing meeting in Astoria in the near future to exchange data and thoughts on the repairs. Details will be provided as they become available.