Erosion eats away at Mattson Road

Wahkiakum County road crews will continue to work on protecting Mattson Road, Public Works Director Pete Ringen reported Tuesday.

The Grays River has been eating into the road, and the county recently was able to place a protective rock blanket where the erosion occurs.

However, Mattson Road resident Tom Doumit said last week that erosion is continuing to occur, and parts of the pavement are sloughing into the river.

"We're losing more of the road," he said. "It's a serious concern."

Ringen said he had spoken with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife representative Steve West about an emergency permit to work on the road, but the deparment representative told him to use the expedited permit process.

While not allowing work to occur as soon as possible under an emergency permit, an expedited permit will allow work later this month, Ringen said.

Ringen proposed installing gabion baskets filled with rock and interspersed with tubes for willow plantings to stabilize the bank. He planned to present the concept to the fish and wildlife representative yesterday (Wednesday) after The Eagle had gone to press.

"If he agrees, we'll go ahead and get them installed," he said. "A concern is that this is just one portion of the road; erosion will be an ongoing concern. There are not any cheap fixes."

Commissioner Dan Cothren suggested boom sticks could be installed along the river bank to soften the eroding power of the current as has been done on Puget Island beaches.

"That's not a bad idea," Ringen said. "I'll talk it over with Steve West."