Project Description
The project site is in Coos Bay, located on the central/south coast of Oregon. The Coos Bay Federal Navigation Project was originally authorized by the River and Harbour Act of March 1879. The Federal Navigation Project was last modified by the Corps in 1997, with a channel configuration of approximately 37 feet deep and 300 feet wide from the ocean inlet to a railroad bridge at River Mile (RM) 9 and continuing 400 feet upstream to RM 15.0.
The proposed Federal actions include the following:
- Dredging of the existing channel to increase channel depth from approximately 37 feet to 51 feet from the entrance at the Pacific Ocean to the railroad bridge located at approximately RM 9.
- Widening of the channel from approximately 300 feet to 600 feet from the entrance at the Pacific Ocean to RM 9.
- Creation of a vessel turning basin.
- Potential modifications to the mouth and entrance and the jetties resulting from the channel widening and deepening.
- Dredge material disposal.
- Ecosystem restoration in the vicinity of Coos Bay.
- Maintenance dredging of the channel and inlet.
Other, non-Federal but inter-dependent and inter-related actions proposed by the POCB include:
- Development of an intermodal container terminal on the North Spit of lower Coos Bay, with the following major components:
- Berthing area capable of accommodating vessels with 46 feet of draft, and vessels up to 1,325 feet in length and a width of 185 feet.
- Wharf or dock, capable of berthing at least two large container vessels.
- Container yard sized and configured to efficiently handle the anticipated cargo.
- Terminal entry facilities for import and export cargo processing and security activities; access for vendor deliveries, employees and repair vehicles.
- Intermodal rail facilities, either on dock or near dock.
- Improvements to the railway corridor from the North Spit to Eugene, Oregon to transport goods off-loaded from container vessels.