Dredging To Begin Soon; Crabbers And Anglers Asked To Stay Clear

Grays Harbor, WA – Dredging could begin this week in Grays Harbor.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers tell KXRO that they plan to conduct Grays Harbor maintenance dredging in the outer harbor beginning June 6 with the Corps hopper dredge vessel ESSAYONS.

The ESSAYONS is scheduled to arrive on or about June 6 at 7 p.m. and will dredge through approximately June 18 (exact departure date to be determined).

Dredging will occur in the federal channel in shoaled areas of the Entrance and Pt. Chehalis reaches, between Westport and Ocean Shores. The goal is to dredge approximately 300,000 cubic yards and place the dredged material in the Pt. Chehalis disposal site.

This dredging and disposal areas are in a narrow area and experience significant vessel traffic. Additionally, there are many crab pots and fishing in the area and the Army Corps of Engineers is asking fishermen and crabbers to move their equipment to avoid having it damaged.

All dredging and disposal areas would need to be kept clear of fishing and crabbing equipment during the dredging, which will conclude on approximately June 18.

Fisherman and crabbers are encouraged to position themselves and/or their equipment at least 300 feet from any channel and disposal area boundary in order to provide a buffer zone to allow for the gear drifting into the area. Equipment that drifts into the navigation channel and/or disposal areas may be damaged or destroyed.

_{Source: kxro.com}