Commissioners, public discuss dredging, culvert

With little formal business on the agenda, Wahkiakum County commissioners largely worked on issues raised by members of the public when the board met Tuesday.

Issues included, for the most part, dredging and culvert cleaning.

After approving the consent agenda at the start of the meeting, the board moved to public comment.

Randy Shroyer of Cape Horn requested an update on the board's efforts to have dredging projects permitted by state and federal agencies. The board intends to set up a 10-year program to have dredges deposit sand on eroding beaches at Cape Horn and on Puget Island.

The US Army Corps of Engineers's legal department hasn't yet given final approval to revised language on right-of-entry permits, replied Commissioner Dan Cothren.

Further, US Fish and Wildlife Service is concerned about the duration of the window allowed for dredging when endangered fish species aren't in the area.

"I don't want to be hampered on when we can be there," Cothren said. "It's been pretty heated the last week or so."

Public Works Director Chuck Beyer explained that the agencies want more information. The county's consultant relied on biological studies done about 10 years ago in a previous dredging project.

"They're wanting more detail than the consultant thought they would require," Beyer said.

The county planning commission will hold a public hearing on the dredging permit next week. Planning consultants are recommending approval, Beyer said.

The planning commission will also consider a permit application from the coalition of upriver ports, who operate the channel dredges; the permit would allow dredgers to construct a pipeline across East Sunny Sands Road to dispose sand on land inside the Puget Island dike.

Commissioners have previously opposed that plan, saying sand should be dumped outside the dike on eroding shorelines, before it goes inside the dike. Beyer said the ports have modified their application.

Olaf Thomason, an East Sunny Sands resident, commented that the recent high river had taken a lot of sand along the length of the Island.

"If we have another couple storms like this . . . ," he warned.

"Properties are at risk," Commissioner Blair Brady finished Thomason's sentence. "We're trying hard."

In other business, Mike Quigley and Dennis Reid urged urgent action to clear a culvert on East Valley Road.

A small creek passes through the culvert, Quigley said, and recent heavy runoff has filled the culvert with