The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

Commissioners of Wahkiakum County Port District No. 2 on Tuesday discussed improvements and new programs the port might pursue.

Port Commissioners Kayrene Gilbertsen, Brian O'Connor and Lori Scott are holding public meetings to gather input for updating the port's comprehensive plan.

O'Connor said he has already received a variety of suggestions, and he has at least one more meeting ahead.

One suggestion receiving widespread support is a proposal to find a way to dredge the mouths of Columbia River tributaries such as Skamokawa Creek and Grays Bay.

Members of the Wahkiakum County Marine Resource Committee (MRC) have been collecting signatures on a petition showing community support for dredging of the tributary mouths.

MRC committee member Tim Tarabochia said the committee will soon send a letter with a survey to Skamokawa area residents to learn their thoughts on dredging and other projects such as establishing salmon net pen programs in the tributaries.

Another project would be to find a sponsor for a small dredge that would be located in the lower river and used to keep creek channels clear.

The MRC committee has scheduled a community meeting in Skamokawa for May 9 to go over the dredging project.

In other business, Grays River resident Alton George reviewed the Grays Bay buoy project sponsored by the port.

George helped the port with GPS locations of the buoys last year, and suggested relocating one buoy and completing the installation of lights on the buoys in place.

O'Connor said the port had budgeted money for buoy work, and Gilbertsen said missing buoy lights had been located in the port's storage garage.