Concerns over erosion along the northern Oregon and southwest Washington coast resulted in the Lower Columbia Solutions Group initiating the Columbia Nearshore Beneficial Use Project to engage public and private sector participants in a collaborative process to explore the use of lower Columbia River maintenance dredge material to address the depletion of natural sand volumes in the nearshore environment, especially off the South Jetty of the Columbia River. The objective of the proposed supplementation of dredged sediments is for these sediments to rebuild the offshore sands in the project area and, over the long term, better protect the South Jetty from wave impacts.

To address scientific information needs articulated by the Nearshore Project group and share this information with decision-makers, the Institute for Natural Resources and the Lower Columbia Solutions Group convened joint workshops.  The scientific workshop organized by the Institute for Natural Resources focused on scientific information about such topics as sediment migration, wave and current patterns, and biological communities in the area of interest.  Discussions at the scientific workshop addressed issues such as areas of scientific agreement, research and monitoring needed to address scientific unknowns, and key indicators for assessing impacts of a nearshore beneficial use project.  This science-policy workshop hosted by the Lower Columbia Solutions Group in May 2005 communicated findings from the scientific workshop to policymakers, resources practitioners, and interested stakeholders.

Science-Policy Workshop Documents

Nearshore Beneficial Use Science-Policy Workshop Executive Summary

Nearshore Beneficial Use Science-Policy Workshop Agenda

Scientific Workshop Documents

All materials from the scientific workshop organized by OSU’s Institute for Natural Resources can be found online at http://oregonstate.edu/inr/scientific-workshop-inform-columbia-river-nearshore-beneficial-use-project.