County, Corps have dredging agreement

Dredged sand may be coming to eroding beaches on Puget Island and at Cape Horn east of Cathlamet.

Wahkiakum County commissioners on Tuesday authorized execution of documents to set up a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the US Army Corps of Engineers to set up a 10-year program that would allow placement of dredge sand at four locations that are subject to erosion.

The Corps's district manager will have to sign the agreement, which has been under development for over a year.

County officials had a surprise when they picked up the agreement last week--the Corps is requiring the county to pay costs in excess of the "Federal Standard dredged material placement alternative," estimated at $50,000.

"That was a surprise," county Commissioner Dan Cothren said Tuesday. "We have depleted the Flood Control Fund; we'll have to bring in some timber money."

Commissioners had expected the project to cost around $70,000.

Cothren added that commissioners need to make the county's congressional delegation aware of the cost.

"It's a huge amount," he said. "People have to have awareness. It's a huge amount."

Commissioners are asking residents of the eroding areas, which have been formally organized into flood control zone districts (FCZD), to approve a six-year levy to repay the county's expenses.

Besides completing environmental and related permits, the county must supply right of entry easements from each property owner in the FCZDs that will allow the Corps' dredging contractor to access the property with depositing sand.

"What can we (property owners) do to help," East Sunny Sands property owner Mike Beutler asked the commissioners.

"Talk with your neighbors and get them to understand the necessity of signing the entry permits," responded Commissioner Blair Brady. "Any hiccups could be a setback."

Commissioners have pointed out that there is no guarantee sand will be placed along the eroding shorelines this year. There must be sufficient sand in the river channel to make the dredging necessary and cost effective, they have said.