09-17-24 Strategic Collaboration With U.S. Coast Guard Saves Douglas County Over $600k (Photo) -09/17/24
(Douglas County, Ore.) The Douglas County Board of Commissioners Chris Boice, Tim Freeman, and Tom Kress along with Salmon Harbor Marina Harbormaster Jim Zimmer, are pleased to announce an upcoming dredging project in the East Basin of Salmon Harbor. Mobilization for the project is expected to begin this week, with dredging activities scheduled to start the week of September 23rd and continue through the first week of October. To facilitate these operations, the East Basin boat launch will be closed to the public during this period. Boaters are advised to use the West Basin launch located at the end of Ork Rock Road.
Dredging is an essential aspect of harbor maintenance. It is the process of excavating sediment deposits, trash, and other debris from the harbor floor and disposing of them elsewhere. Dredging is routinely performed in ports around the world to maintain harbor depth and improve shipping channels of existing ports for local, charter and larger shipping vessels. Removal of excess sediment provides critical maintenance to prevent vessels from running aground when they dock. Other benefits of dredging include flood prevention, restoration of onshore land, and the removal of contaminants from the sea floor.
The dredging will be conducted by The Dutra Group, leveraging their existing contract with the U.S. Coast Guard. This collaboration allows Douglas County to achieve significant cost savings. While the Coast Guard is investing $947,000 to remove 7,000 cubic yards of material, Douglas County is contributing $150,000 to remove an additional 4,000 cubic yards. Had the project been undertaken independently by the County, the estimated cost would have exceeded $765,000, with mobilization alone amounting to $645,000.
Zimmer stated, “This dredging project is primarily a U.S. Coast Guard project, and Douglas County is strategically piggybacking on their efforts. By aligning our project with the Coast Guard’s schedule, we are not only ensuring timely and efficient maintenance in the arbor but also achieving significant cost savings. This collaboration allows us to address critical maintenance needs at Salmon Harbor while maximizing our resources and minimizing expenses. It’s a win-win for both the Coast Guard and Douglas County, and ultimately, for the boating community we serve.”
The dredging operations will begin in the East Basin near the U.S. Coast Guard Station and Dock-A and involve several large-scale pieces of equipment, including:
- DB Morty – A derrick barge with a crane and a 12-cubic-yard bucket (Liebherr 895) for dredging. Dimensions: 188' x 60' x 12'.
- Scow “KS-10” – A dump scow with a capacity of 3,000 cubic yards. Dimensions: 254' x 45' x 13'.
- Assist Boat Becky T – A 50' x 19' x 7' assist tug.
- Survey 4 – A 25' x 9' survey boat for monitoring and quality control (North-wind COI certified).
- Pacific Gemini – A tow tug measuring 73' x 24'.
The project start and stop dates are weather-dependent, and the operations schedule will be determined by the tides, which may require nighttime work. Given the size of the equipment and the project's location, maneuverability in the East Basin will be limited. For safety reasons, we encourage all boaters to avoid the area. Night operations may involve bright lights and noise. The start and end dates are approximate and may change depending on weather and tidal conditions.
Salmon Harbor Marina, “the best kept secret on the Oregon Coast,” is one of the largest recreational facilities along the Oregon Coast. Salmon Harbor has immediate access to the Umpqua River, the Umpqua River Lighthouse and Coastal History Museum, the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, the Pacific Ocean, and miles of public white-sand beaches. The full-service marina offers 375 moorage slips with power and water, two launch ramps, a full-service fuel dock and 124 self-contained first-come, first-served camping sites with restroom and shower facilities. They also operate the nationally renowned Winchester Bay RV Resort with 138 large full-hook up sites with newly upgraded WiFi service.
