The Lower Columbia Solutions Group & the Sediment Management Project at the Mouth of the Columbia River | Capitol Beach

On The Capitol Beach, Derek Brockbank speaks with representatives from the US Army Corps of Engineers, US EPA, the State of Washington and the State of Oregon – just a few of the many members of the Lower Columbia Solutions Group, who won this year’s Robert Wiegel Coastal Project award from the ASBPA for the ongoing sediment management project at the mouth of the Columbia River. This “lifetime achievement award” for coastal project was presented for a series of interconnected projects that maximize the beneficial use of sediment dredged from the Federal Navigation Channel in the Columbia River. These projects include, among others, nearshore thin layer placement in multiple sites to provide sediment to naturally feed the adjacent beaches, while protecting sensitive habitat. Perhaps more impressive than the innovative projects, is that collaborative process of agency and stakeholder engagement that led to them and the robust monitoring and scientific research that ensures their effectiveness. This is a story of government and community stakeholders working together to ensure a healthy coastline that works for (nearly) everyone!