The Port of Kalama begins its annual maintenance dredging at the TEMCO grain elevator berth on September 1st and is expected to run through September 30, 2019. The Port board of commissioners awarded the ongoing 2019 maintenance dredging contract to Ross Island Sand and Gravel for $687,225.00, including tax. The project will remove a projected 55,000 cubic yards of material to depths between 43 to 47 feet.
The Port’s award-winning maintenance dredging program ensures the draft necessary to keep cargo ships sailing smoothly at the terminal. The dredging procedure removes sand in front of the TEMCO LLC terminal and uses the clean materials to continue beach nourishment on the Port of Kalama riverfront or may be placed on the upland South Port material site. The Port is only permitted to provide these maintenance services at this time of year, which is during the authorized in-water work window.
All parks will remain open but the beach at Louis Rasmussen Park will be slightly impeded by the pipe though there will be a safe spot for the public to cross over it. general business activities at the Port will continue as scheduled. The river frontage at Marine Park, McMenamins Kalama Harbor Lodge and the Port’s administration offices will be closed while sand is placed. Informational signs will be placed onsite, and construction fencing will indicate the project boundary.
A pipe will run along the shoreline from Ahles Point to the beach nourishment site. The pipe will float between the project site and Ahles point where it comes on the beach. Boaters should be aware of the pipe.
“We want the public to be aware that it’s that time of year for the annual maintenance dredging we are required to do to support shipping and commerce here at the Port—and because the clean dredged sand is then used to nourish and enhance our public beaches, it’s really a win-win for business and recreation,” said Liz Newman, marketing manager, Port of Kalama. “These projects are part of the Port’s effort to maintain and improve shipping access for Port businesses and we apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause. We urge the public to call the Port with any questions or concerns and please visit the Port of Kalama Facebook page for posted updates on the project.”
TEMCO is a primary Port tenant, which produced over $5.3 million in Port revenue in 2018.
According to the US Census Bureau and USA Trade Online, the Port of Kalama is the third largest bulk exporter on the West Coast right after Los Angeles and Long Beach, California. Handling well over 13 million tons of bulk commodities, the Port of Kalama weighs in as one of the nation’s largest tonnage export facilities shipping more bulk cargo than even its neighbors Portland, Longview and Seattle.
As an internationally-renowned marine terminal on the Columbia River and home to some of the most efficient grain export facilities on the west coast, the Port of Kalama plays a key role in the nation’s robust export trade industry. In fact, the Columbia River is the third largest grain export gateway in the world, exporting more than 50% of the nation’s wheat.
