SEATTLE -- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials will begin maintenance dredging two sections of the Everett Harbor and Snohomish River federal project, Oct. 25, 2023.
Operations will run 24/7 and remove nearly 128,000 cubic yards (cy) of material using a hydraulic pipeline dredge. Officials expect to complete the project by Feb. 14, 2024.
Dredging operations will remove about 100,000 cy of accumulated sediment from the upper settling basin and place the material in the City of Everett’s Parcel O site in Everett, Washington.
Officials will beneficially use about 28,000 cy of accumulated sediment from the lower channel to renourish Jetty Island’s west side. Beneficially reusing dredged material involves placing or using dredged material for a productive purpose, such as beach or nearshore nourishment, habitat creation or restoration.
Before dredging or beneficially reusing material, the Corps of Engineers receives a Suitability Determination indicating the material is suitable for placement at the sites, in compliance with the Endangered Species Act.
The project must also follow work windows, known as fish windows, to not impact salmon outmigration and other designated forage fish.
The Corps of Engineers contractor will try to minimize noise during dredging, but noise is amplified and travels long distance over water. Boaters should avoid the area during this period. If they cannot, boaters need to slow down, pass on the dredge’s marina side, pay attention to rig markings and be cautious around the dredging operations.
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One of the Seattle District’s primary missions is to maintain the navigation channels and harbors in the Pacific Northwest. Maintenance and navigation dredging are performed frequently in harbor areas, ports, and marinas. A significant component of Washington State’s economy relies on navigation and commerce, which requires dredging state waterways such as Everett Harbor and Snohomish River.