HUMBOLDT BAY DREDGING UNDERWAY

The Humboldt Bay Harbor Recreation and Conservation District’s cutterhead suction dredge Nehalem was dredging the Humboldt Bay navigation channel at press time. Channel depths which are authorized at 48 feet were as shallow as 20 feet in some places due to recent heavy rains and silting.

The Harbor District recently acquired its own dredge to save money and increase the scope of needed dredging outside the federal navigation channel. The district has an agreement with Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) whereby the Harbor District bought King Salmon Fisherman’s Canal and 30 acres of upland and agreed to a one-time canal dredging. In return PG&E paid the district $2 million and will pay for all permit costs.

The dredging should be completed sometime in June.