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Clatsop County Estuary Restoration Project Proposed by CBB Staff Columbia Basin Bulletin - May 2, 2003

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is proposing a $900,000 restoration effort to improve about 10 miles of salmonid habitat near Brownsmead, Ore.

The project, sponsored by Clatsop County Diking Improvement Company No. 7, would improve the connection of Blind and Sapsal sloughs to the Columbia River through the installation of new or improved tide gates and culverts.

The Bonneville Power Administration and Columbia River Estuary Study Taskforce are assisting with local funding and coordination. Work would begin in September 2003 and take about six weeks.

The Corps has prepared an Environmental Assessment to address environmental impacts associated with the proposed work.

In 1938, the Corps of Engineers made substantial improvements to the levees for the diking districts. Between initial private and subsequent Corps efforts, the Brownsmead area was severed from the tidal actions of the Columbia River estuary.

The proposed project would restore salmonid access to and improve egress from 9.6 miles of former off-channel rearing and resting habitat through improved culverts and tidegate installation. Additional rearing and resting habitat would be available in the numerous small channels that dissect the area. Access for adult salmonids to Anderson Creek for spawning also would be improved.

The proposed action includes the following elements:

• The gate at Aldrich Point would be managed to allow more water from Prairie Channel to enter Blind Slough for longer periods of time than at present.
• Placement of a larger culvert system (three to five culverts) under the Astoria Railroad Line to increase flow transfer in Blind Slough;
• Placement of two culverts under Leino Lane to increase flow transfer through Saspal Slough;
• Installation of three culverts with fish-friendly tide gates in the Saspal Slough plug to allow for water export and fisheries ingress and egress;
• Installation of an improved culvert under Aldrich Point Road to improve fish passage upstream to Anderson Creek.

The local sponsor will complete the following actions:

• Excavation of a water supply channel from Blind Slough through lands of the Long Island Dairy to provide increased flows to Saspal Slough;
• Placement of a larger culvert in the private road crossing immediately downstream of the water supply channel to Saspal Slough.