Marine Resources Committee to send out surveys

The Wahkiakum County Marine Resources Committee (MRC) is sending out more than 1,800 surveys to Wahkiakum County residents this week to assess local need for dredging in the area.

With these extensive community surveys and new mapping, the MRC is working to show local and regional decision makers a complete picture of the siltation of local river mouths and sloughs, and its impact on homes and businesses.

Last year, the MRC surveyed Skamokawa residents and held a public forum on dredging needs. The MRC learned from this work that more surveys were needed throughout the county, and that permitting agencies required new maps of the river bottoms.

The MRC worked with the Department of Natural Resources to complete mapping of river bottoms this spring, and the results are expected in a few weeks.

Both the survey results and new river bottom maps will be shared with port and county commissioners later this summer.