2nd dredging project delayed

While the Port of Portland dredge “Oregon” pumped spoils on the eroding East Sunny Sands shoreline this week, dredging to address erosion at the lower end of Puget Island will have to wait till summer of 2009.

Commissioner George Trott reported Tuesday that the US Army Corps of Engineers wouldn’t have a dredge available for the work--the “Oregon” is scheduled to move elsewhere, and it would cost Wahkiakum County at least $750,000 to have a dredge move in to do the work this year.

Instead, the Corps said it could schedule the work next summer as part of its channel maintenance work at no cost to the county.

“It’s our best option; it’s our only option,” said Trott and colleague Blair Brady.

Two residences are immediately threatened by erosion in the Ostervold Road area.

“I don’t know if the land owners there can hold out, but that’s the best we can do,” Trott said.