Sand comes to eroding shoreline

When The Port of Portland dredge “Oregon” began pumping sand on the eroding East Sunny Sands beach last week, setting off a celebratory mood among Puget Island residents and public officials from Wahkiakum County to Washington, D.C.

Local officials have been working with federal representatives and officials from the US Army Corps of Engineers for nearly eight years to get the spoils and stop the erosion.

US Rep. Brian Baird journeyed to the residence of Nina Lou Watson Friday afternoon for the celebration.

Watson’s house was once a distance from the beach, but erosion caused by a ship navigation channel pile dike has moved the beach in front of the house to less than 20 feet from the house.

“It (the dredge) is a lot better way to haul sand,” said Baird, who had previously joined local residents in placing sandbags in front of Watson’s house to stabilize the eroding bank. “We’re grateful for all the work of the Corps of Engineers. They found a way to do this in a time of increasing demand for their services and a diminished budget.

“This says a lot about how they feel and how I feel about the people of this county.

“I’m thrilled to see this day.”

“I appreciate everybody who has worked over the years for this,” Watson said. “This has come at the right time. I don’t think the house would be here another year without it.

Col. Steve Miles of the Corps remarked that the project has taken a long time to come to fruition, “but we’re committed to get it done.”

Wahkiakum County played a major role, he added, for the county hired a consulting engineer who designed the project and the county paid for the permit to dump the sand spoils.

Under terms of the permit, the Corps will be able to use the site in the future for channel maintenance dredge spoils disposal.

“When I see this, I feel like I’ve accomplished something,” said Commissioner George Trott, who is retiring after two terms in office. “The permitting agencies changed their philosophies on the effect of placing spoils along the beach. It’s been a long time coming.”

“I’m glad I don’t have to do more sandbagging,” said Commissioner Dan Cothren.

“Now I can throw my blood pressure medicine away,” Watson joked.

County officials reported Tuesday that they had made progress in getting thing set for another sand spoils project at the lower end of the Island.

Commissioners and Corps officials had talked last week with permitting staff to straighten out concerns about language in the permit, and Tuesday, commissioners authorized Public Works Director Pete Ringen to accept the permit.

Ringen planned further talks this week with Corps and Port of Portland officials to see if the dredge would be able to dispose sand in the area.