15-003 Corps to begin lower Snake River dredging; River mariners need to be aware of dredging equipment at multiple locations starting Jan. 8

Published Jan. 7, 2015
Navigation channel maintenance activities begin today (Jan. 12, 2015) in the downstream navigation lock approach at Ice Harbor Lock and Dam and in the confluence area of the Snake River near Lewiston, Idaho. Sediment removed to re-establish the federal navigation channel on the lower Snake River to Congressionally authorized dimensions of 250 feet wide by 14 feet deep at Minimum Operating Pool will be used to create additional fish habitat at Knoxway Canyon (River Mile 116) downstream of Clarkston, Wash.

Navigation channel maintenance activities begin today (Jan. 12, 2015) in the downstream navigation lock approach at Ice Harbor Lock and Dam and in the confluence area of the Snake River near Lewiston, Idaho. Sediment removed to re-establish the federal navigation channel on the lower Snake River to Congressionally authorized dimensions of 250 feet wide by 14 feet deep at Minimum Operating Pool will be used to create additional fish habitat at Knoxway Canyon (River Mile 116) downstream of Clarkston, Wash.

Navigation channel maintenance activities begin today (Jan. 12, 2015) in the downstream navigation lock approach at Ice Harbor Lock and Dam and in the confluence area of the Snake River near Lewiston, Idaho. Sediment removed to re-establish the federal navigation channel on the lower Snake River to Congressionally authorized dimensions of 250 feet wide by 14 feet deep at Minimum Operating Pool will be used to create additional fish habitat at Knoxway Canyon (River Mile 116) downstream of Clarkston, Wash.

Navigation channel maintenance activities begin today (Jan. 12, 2015) in the downstream navigation lock approach at Ice Harbor Lock and Dam and in the confluence area of the Snake River near Lewiston, Idaho. Sediment removed to re-establish the federal navigation channel on the lower Snake River to Congressionally authorized dimensions of 250 feet wide by 14 feet deep at Minimum Operating Pool will be used to create additional fish habitat at Knoxway Canyon (River Mile 116) downstream of Clarkston, Wash.

Navigation channel maintenance activities begin today (Jan. 12, 2015) in the downstream navigation lock approach at Ice Harbor Lock and Dam and in the confluence area of the Snake River near Lewiston, Idaho. Sediment removed to re-establish the federal navigation channel on the lower Snake River to Congressionally authorized dimensions of 250 feet wide by 14 feet deep at Minimum Operating Pool will be used to create additional fish habitat at Knoxway Canyon (River Mile 116) downstream of Clarkston, Wash.

Navigation channel maintenance activities begin today (Jan. 12, 2015) in the downstream navigation lock approach at Ice Harbor Lock and Dam and in the confluence area of the Snake River near Lewiston, Idaho. Sediment removed to re-establish the federal navigation channel on the lower Snake River to Congressionally authorized dimensions of 250 feet wide by 14 feet deep at Minimum Operating Pool will be used to create additional fish habitat at Knoxway Canyon (River Mile 116) downstream of Clarkston, Wash.

Navigation channel maintenance activities begin today (Jan. 12, 2015) in the downstream navigation lock approach at Ice Harbor Lock and Dam and in the confluence area of the Snake River near Lewiston, Idaho. Sediment removed to re-establish the federal navigation channel on the lower Snake River to Congressionally authorized dimensions of 250 feet wide by 14 feet deep at Minimum Operating Pool will be used to create additional fish habitat at Knoxway Canyon (River Mile 116) downstream of Clarkston, Wash.

Navigation channel maintenance activities begin today (Jan. 12, 2015) in the downstream navigation lock approach at Ice Harbor Lock and Dam and in the confluence area of the Snake River near Lewiston, Idaho. Sediment removed to re-establish the federal navigation channel on the lower Snake River to Congressionally authorized dimensions of 250 feet wide by 14 feet deep at Minimum Operating Pool will be used to create additional fish habitat at Knoxway Canyon (River Mile 116) downstream of Clarkston, Wash.

WALLA WALLA , Wash.  – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District, and its dredging contractor American Construction Company plan to begin lower Snake River dredging on or about Monday, Jan. 12, at the downstream lock approach of Ice Harbor Dam, plus at the confluence of the Snake-Clearwater rivers in the Lewiston-Clarkston area. Dredging vessels and equipment will also be moving between the dredging locations and the dredged material placement site (River Mile 116) during this time. The dredging is likely to involve a 24-hour-a-day operation.

 

Starting Jan. 8, prior to the start of dredging, the contractor will be placing water quality monitoring buoys both downstream and upstream at the dredging locations. Monitoring buoys measure water turbidity levels.

 

River mariners are urged to be cautious around dredging vessels and equipment. In accordance with standard procedures, the Corps has also issued a notice to the navigation industry announcing the presence of dredging vessels and equipment in the lower Snake River between Jan. 8 and Feb. 28. Vessels planning to lock through Ice Harbor Dam during this time period must coordinate in advance of lockage with the Ice Harbor Control Room at (509) 543-3231 or navigation channel 14. This allows the contractor to move dredging vessels or equipment to accommodate vessel lockage. The Ice Harbor lock is planned to return to normal operations by 5 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 15.

 

Maintenance dredging last occurred in the lower Snake River navigation channel in the winter of 2005-2006. Sediment accumulation has since encroached on certain areas of the federal navigation channel and related port berthing areas.

 

For information about the Corps’ Programmatic Sediment Management Plan, see the Walla Walla District website at http://www.nww.usace.army.mil/Missions/Projects/ProgrammaticSedimentManagementPlan.aspx.

 

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Contact
Public Affairs Office
509-527-7020
cenww-pa@usace.army.mil

Release no. 15-003