Skamokawa Creek shoaling addressed

Commissioners of Port District 2 discussed dredging and other issues when they met Tuesday.

Two Skamokawa residents asked the commissioners to work to get someone to dredge the mouth of Skamokawa Creek. It's almost impossible to get a boat in or out of the creek at low tide they said.

"I was born and raised here and I've never seen it like this," said John Peterson.

Commissioner Brian O'Connor, a Skamokawa resident, agreed there is a problem with siltation. "That's why no one wants to use our boat launch; it's filled in," he said.

The group attributed the siltation to material coming down Skamokawa Creek and settling when it gets to the mouth and also to the dredging practices of the US Army Corps of Engineers. Dredging crews have placed spoils in places where they can drift into the creek mouth and cause the severe shoaling which affects the creek.

Skamokawa resident Mike Lynch suggested the port commission pressure the Corps to fix the problem they've created.

It's not so easy, replied Port Manager Bob Robinson. The Corps evaluates programs on a financial basis. The cost of the project must produce a tangible economic benefit.

"I can have a conversation with the Corps," Robinson said. He added, however, that the community would need to show there is an economic benefit to the dredging. Perhaps the Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce's economic development staff could help with that, he said.

Steve Harvey, executive director of the Cowlitz/Wahkiakum Council of Governments (COG), addressed the commission and asked them to consider rejoining the council as a voting member.

In preparing the 2011 budget, port commissioners agreed to cease or reduce memberships in other organizations as a cost saving measure. They changed their COG status to a non-voting status.

Harvey said the COG board of directors had authorized him to offer voting membership at a reduced rate.

Commissioners said they were interested, but they had already set the budget for 2011.

"We're pretty well through this year; we could discuss it for next year," said Commissioner Kayrene Gilbertsen.

"At this point, it's not in our budget," O'Connor said.

"We're pretty tight," Gilbertsen said.

"We'll look at it and then consider it for next year," Robinson said.

Commissioner Carlton Appelo was traveling and didn't attend the meeting.