Port of Kalama Dredging Plans on the Table

The Port of Kalama has submitted a request to modify their existing U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit (NWP-1994-462/1) in order to provide additional in-water dredge material disposal sites and beach nourishment sites for their maintenance dredging operations.

The existing Corps permit authorizes maintenance dredging at the terminals to -48 Columbia River Datum (CRD) with a 2-foot over dredge allowance at North Port and TEMCO and to -43 CRD with a 2-foot over dredge allowance at Kalama Export as well as maintenance dredging at the marina to -10 +3 CRD.

The existing permit also includes placement of the dredged material at approved Port-owned sites and for reuse at the Ross Island Sand and Gravel disposal site in Portland, Oregon, and placement of dredged material at a deep scour hole associated with Oregon pile dike 77.5 via flow-lane placement and at the Port’s shoreline park (Louis Rasmussen Day Use Park) at RM 76.

According to the Corps, there are four locations associated with the proposed modification:

1. The 72-100 OR in-water dredge material disposal site is located in the Columbia River at river mile 72.1 in Columbia County, Oregon. The site is in Section 35, Township 7 North, Range 2 West. Latitude/Longitude: 46.046745/-122.887243.
2. The South Sandy Island in-water dredge material disposal site is located in the Columbia River at river mile 76 in Columbia County, Oregon. The site is in Section 19, Township 6 North, Range 1 West. Latitude/Longitude: 45.994317/-122.860097.
3. The 79-100 OR in-water dredge material disposal site is located in the Columbia River at river mile 79.1 in Columbia County, Oregon. The site is in Section 32, Township 6 North, Range 1 West. Latitude/Longitude: 43.956234/-122.823098.
4. The Cottonwood Island beach nourishment placement site is located in the Columbia River at river mile 71.2 in Cowlitz County, Washington. The site is in Section 25, Township 7 North, Range 2 West. Latitude/Longitude: 46.052373/-122.890856.

Dredged material disposal at the above listed in-water disposal sites would be dredged from the Port of Kalama’s North Port, TEMCO, Kalama Export, and marina facilities; located along the Columbia River, river mile 72-76.

The deadline for sending comments on the proposed work is April 20, 2018.