“The gravel that comes down the Rogue Basin and from the tributaries every year, it is piled up here and it’s really detrimental to our fishing, our economy,” said Court Boice, Curry County commissioner.

That translates to about $4 million annually, according to Speer. “With all the recreational fishing-and some ports have commercial fishing-it keeps the channel open so that you attract the tourists and the commercial fishermen to come in and spend their money here in the communities.”Ĭurry County has been actively assisting in seeking dredging and funding for the work due to the community’s reliance on local tourism and recreation at this harbor, which sees more than 4,500 recreation-related bar crossings each year. “We have eight breaking bars on this coast, which are very hazardous and dangerous, and by dredging we keep those open and keep them safe for the community,” said Speer. Coast Guard operates a seasonal station here to ensure the safe navigation of the channel and responds to offshore emergencies. For instance, Gold Beach is a harbor of safe refuge that offers vessels shelter from heavy seas. Greg Speer, Oregon Coast project manager, recognizes that maintaining channel access is critical for several reasons. Sediment and rock have tumbled down the Rogue and stacked up here since the last major dredging event in 2018, constraining the port area and boat access. It’s important what the Army Corps does and the federal funding for that is important to maintain a certain percentage of money out of the Harbor Maintenance Fund to go into this.” “Recreationally and with a small commercial component, also, it’s important to the small community of about 2,500 people. “If it’s not maintained at least every five years, ingress, egress out of the Port of Gold Beach won’t occur,” said McNair. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), the port could lose out on this recreation activity, according to Bill McNair, Port of Gold Beach president. The small community on the southern coast, where the Rogue River meets the Pacific Ocean, doesn’t have much, but it has a port that sees upwards of 35,000 visitors per year for jet boat tours and averages 75-100 fishing boats a day, according to port officials. A giant bucket – the size of a 1970s Volkswagen bus – swings through the air after it gobbles up 20 cubic yards of gravel blocking (shoaling-in) access to parts of the Port of Gold Beach, Ore.

Small gold dredge partner needed