Dredging Clears Humboldt Bay Entrance Channel

Humboldt Bay – California North Coast’s only deep-water port – is once again safe for shipping after roughly 1.1 million cubic yards of sediment were removed from the bay entrance channel.

In its latest release, the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Conservation and Recreation District announced that all shipping restrictions have been lifted following the completion of dredging works.

As reported, over the last several months, the Army Corps successfully removed around 1.1 million cubic yards of sediment from the entrance channel of Humboldt Bay.

The U.S. Coast Guard redeployed the navigational buoys and the shipping draft restrictions have been removed.

In January and February 2019, Humboldt Bay experienced significant sediment deposits in the entrance channel near buoy No. 9, which resulted in extremely dangerous shoaling conditions and the closure of Humboldt Bay to commercial shipping.

The Harbor District and Harbor Safety Committee are currently working with USACE to define a long-term solution to the Bay’s sediment problem and plans are underway to make repairs to the North and South Jetties.

Design and permitting work is happening now and the Army Corps is tentatively scheduled to begin much needed repair work on the North Jetty in 2020 and the South Jetty in 2021.

The Harbor District also reported that a contract has been awarded to dredge portions of Woodley Island Marina and Fields Landing Boat Yard to the Dutra Group.

Dredging is expected to start by mid-September and go through October 15th.