Grays Harbor Dredging About to Begin

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will begin annual Grays Harbor maintenance dredging April 18. Seattle-based Manson Construction Co., is contracted to dredge nearly one million cubic yards of material, working through May 31.

Manson’s Bayport Dredge will place material at the existing South Beach nourishment site and Washington State Department of Natural Resources-managed Point Chehalis open water disposal site.

Crab pots in dredge and disposal sites need to be moved by owners before Saturday, according to the Corps Seattle District officials.

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

The 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.

Portland District-assigned dredges Essayons and Yaquina typically support Seattle District Grays Harbor operations but are undergoing maintenance. Manson Construction received the West Coast Hopper Maintenance Dredging 2015 project contract for nearly $19 million from the Portland District. It involves maintenance dredging at Grays Harbor, San Francisco and Columbia River.

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