Skamokawa Creek, Westport Slough Dredging Plans on Display

The USACE Portland District is seeking public comment on the Federal Navigation Channel Operations and Maintenance Dredging and Dredged Material Placement draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for Skamokawa Creek, Westport Slough, Old Mouth Cowlitz River and Upstream Entrance to Oregon Slough.

“The draft EA was prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Council on Environmental Quality’s NEPA regulations (40 C.F.R. parts 1500–1508), and the Corps’ NEPA regulations (33 C.F.R. part 230),” USACE said in its release.

Under the plan, the dredged material would be placed in the USACE’s existing network of upland placement sites and in the Columbia River from River Mile 3 through 145 where water is 20 feet deep or greater.

According to the announcement, USACE has preliminarily determined that the proposed action is not likely to result in significant impacts on the human environment, and therefore an environmental impact statement (EIS) will not be prepared.

The public comment period (13 days) is intended to provide those interested in or affected by this action an opportunity to make their concerns or comments known.