USA: Grays Harbor Maintenance Dredging About to Begin

Grays Harbor annual maintenance dredging will begin March 29 by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ hopper dredge Essayons.

Working around-the-clock, Essayons and her crews are scheduled to dredge through April 18. A second Corps dredge, the Yaquina, will join her April 5, working until May 1.

The two vessels are expected to dredge 1.2 million cubic yards of material during the month.

Dredges will place material at existing Half Moon Bay and South Beach nourishment sites and Washington State Department of Natural Resources-managed Point Chehalis and South Jetty open water disposal sites.

Corps Seattle District officials worked with state and federal agencies and Native American Nations to minimize harm to the aquatic ecosystem. They prepared a Biological Evaluation in accordance with the Endangered Species Act and Environmental Assessment in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act.

Corps officials assure full compliance with the acts prior to starting. Potential dredging and disposal operations impacts are also avoided through implementation of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-designated timing restrictions. In addition, local crab fishermen assist by temporarily relocating during operations.

Dredges Essayons and Yaquina are assigned to the Portland District and annually support Seattle District Grays Harbor operations.

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Press Release, March 28, 2013