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

To The Eagle:

I have questions about the US Army Corps of Engineers. I understand that some homeowners that live along the Columbia River, especially in areas of Puget Island, Cathlamet and other locales I’m not aware of, are losing their homes from erosion caused by freighter and tanker ships cruising back and forth on the river. Thinking back it seems if I recall that for years, to help prevent erosion and to keep the river channel deep for the ships, the US Army Corps of Engineers dredged the river and refilled sands back to the shores of the homeowners along the banks. But from what I understand, not so for the past few years. When did they stop and why? Isn’t that part of the job? Where has the US Army Corps of Engineers been taking the sands that they dredge and dump it to? Out onto the US Army Corps of Engineers’ land and elsewhere? If this is so, the US Army Corps of Engineers has committed a federal crime--robbery. Yes, laugh as you may, but literally they’re robbing sands that should have gone back to these homeowners.

According to last week’s Eagle, the article mentioned about getting the US Army Corps of Engineers to work with us and that “the process seems to be back on track.” Hey, what was it that seems to be the problem of working together on this? In the first place this shouldn’t have happened and why go through all the process of what seems to be a nightmare of hassles. It should have been an automatic response like, “Yes, we’ll take care of it ASAP.” These people are losing their homes fast and time is of the essence. In my opinion and as corny as this may sound because of how big an outfit the US Army Corps of Engineers is, they should be tried as a felon and be sent to prison for not returning the sands back to these homeowners or they should pay these people the value of their home and land that they are about to lose.

I may be all wet behind the ears about this but I do know this, the US Army Corps of Engineers is affiliated with the federal government. That means they are paid by us, the taxpayers. Also that means they should be working for us, not against us. Though I have read many times that whenever situations arise and they are needed, they are there and have done a great job of taking care of it. But in this case, in my opinion, this situation is not being taken care of when needed. I do hope this situation gets resolved quickly because, again, time is of the essence.

Toni Below

Cathlamet