Community Discussion—Channel Expansion

Coos Bay entrance, with South Slough in foreground.\Photo courtesy of Surfrider.

The Port of Coos Bay proposes to deepen and widen the navigation channel through the estuary from the ocean to river mile 8.2.  The Corps of Engineers will be preparing an Environmental Impact Statement to analyze the potential impacts. There will be impacts to the estuarine environment, of course, but one significant potential impact will be facilitating development of the proposed LNG (liquefied natural gas) export terminal at Jordan Cove.

The Coos Bay chapter of the Surfrider Foundation is hosting a community discussion of the channel project on Monday, Sept. 25, from 6-9 p.m. at 7 Devils Brewing in Coos Bay (247 S. 2^nd St.).  All are welcome (including families) to this free event.

Shannon Souza, a Coos Bay-based environmental engineer, will lead a discussion of the possible economic, recreational and environmental effects of channel expansion.  Souza is principal owner of Sol Coast Companies, a construction and design firm which deals in renewable energy, sustainable construction, water systems, and home energy assessment.

Concerned citizens can also submit written comments on or before October 3 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District (PM-E), P. O. Box 2946, Portland, OR 97208-2946, or by email at coosbaychannelmodEIS@usace.army.mil.  All comments should include “Coos Bay Channel Modification Project EIS” in the subject line. Written comments may also be submitted at the scoping meeting.

You can find information on the project on the Port’s website here.