Swinomish Channel dredging almost done
Jan 8 2013 in Currents, Environment by Deborah Bach
Dredging of the Swinomish Channel, which started last September, is expected to wrap up this weekend.
The contractor, Tacoma-based American Construction Co., has removed nearly 220,000 cubic yards of material from the channel, according to John Pell, project manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The work is expected to finish on Jan. 12 or 13, bringing the project to completion within the so-called “fish window,” which closes Feb. 15.
A dredging machine was working at shoaling areas just north of La Conner on Tuesday, and from there will work its way south past downtown La Conner, finishing at the spot known as “Hole in the Wall” on the weekend.
After the dredging is finished, the Corps will conduct a post-dredge survey and publish full charts of the channel afterward, Pell said.
The 11-mile channel silts in quickly and requires dredging to keep it passable. It was last dredged in 2008 and was due for additional dredging in 2011. In late August, the Corps, which oversees the dredging, awarded a $1.9-million contract to American Construction Co. for the work.
hcg said on January 14, 2013
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VESSEL ASSIST NW, said on January 10, 2013
the depth is ONLY ONE of this channels many hazzards! when transiting allways be ready to deploy anchor!! when mayhem strikes you have only a minute or two to anchor in safe water. the rocks await. murphy seems to have a strong presence here.l things fail at random, but here its buddy boating for safe passage, call other boats and pair up… we at VESSEL ASSIST are 15 or more minutes away… you can allways call us on VHF 16 OR 18 for updated local knowlege. know yout tides and watch fot “thin water”
seaweedsoup said on January 8, 2013
How will the dredging effect the current in the channel? Will it increase, decrease or stay the same?
Deborah Bach said on January 8, 2013
Good question. I’ll see if I can get an answer for you.
Bill Dowell (U.S Army Corps of Engineers) said on January 9, 2013
Deborah, thanks for the email. According to Corps Coastal Hydraulic Engineer David Michalsen, the dredging allows more water to flow through the channel but wouldn’t have any significant effect on the current. However, the dredging should improve navigation, or vessel handling, in the channel.