County OK's agreement for Corps 408 review

Setting up a long-term beach nourishment program for four Wahkiakum County flood control zone district (FCZD) beaches took a small step forward Tuesday.

Commissioners voted to sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the US Army Corps of Engineers for processing a 408 Section review of the potential impacts of the proposed sand deposits on the Columbia River shipping channel and the channel for the ferry Oscar B.

County Public Works Director Chuck Beyer said he and the county's consulting engineers handling the application had discussed the process with a Corps representative last week.

"This is a low impact project," Beyer said, "so they're saying a potential cost of $15-20,000, and I'm picking $20,000 to be safe."

The commissioners approved the MOA with a maximum cost of $20,000.

Beyer said it should take the Corps about two weeks to sign the MOA, and then the consultant can go to work to complete it.

So far, the consultant's work totals about $100,000, Beyer said.

"They've been doing a lot outside their contract, so there will be adjustments," he added.

Commissioner Blair Brady suggested the permitting could end up costing around $180,000, with another $50,000 needed to cover the county's share of the cost of placing the sand on the FCZD beaches. Commissioners have implemented an assessment of property in the districts to help cover expenses.

The board's goal is to create at least a 10-year program in which the Corps would use the FCZD beaches for sand spoils sites, thereby sheilding beach front property from erosion.