The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking comments on a draft environmental assessment proposing three additional nearshore sediment placement sites at the Mouth of the Columbia River.
The purpose of the proposed action is to add additional, long-term dredged material placement sites to the existing network of disposal sites for the MCR project. Additional nearshore sites are needed to address significant erosion issues and divert a sand resource that is otherwise “lost” if it goes to deep-water disposal rather than to beneficial use in the MCR system.
Incorporating intertidal and nearshore sites within the already established sediment disposal network gives the Corps maximum flexibility in their dredging program and is one element of the Corps’ beneficial use plan which focuses on keeping sediment within the littoral zone.
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Dredging Today Staff, March 2, 2012; Image: swrcb