HUMBOLDT HARBOR AND BAY
OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

INVESTIGATIONS
Environmental Assessment and Draft FONSI (PDF)

PROJECT LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION

Humboldt Harbor and Bay is located in Eureka, California, which is approximately 280 miles north of San Francisco.  Operations and Maintenance (O&M) provides for annual inspections and periodic repairs of the North and South Jetties and for annual maintenance dredging of (1) the Bar and Entrance Channels to a depth of 48 feet Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW); (2) the North Bay Channel to 38 feet MLLW; (3) the Samoa Channel, including its Turning Basin, to  38 feet MLLW; (4) the Eureka Channel to  35 and 23 feet MLLW; and (5) the Fields Landing Channel to 26 feet MLLW. The permanently designated Humboldt Open Ocean Disposal Site (HOODS) is utilized for the placement of all dredged materials.

FY 23 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Perform maintenance dredging of the Bar and Entrance Channels to the authorized project depths with the Government hopper dredge Essayons, and/or through a regional contract.
• Dredge the Interior Channels with the Government hopper dredge Yaquina as funding permits.  The FY23 Yaquina schedule is slated for about 14 days of dredging.  The schedule is contingent on successful annual dry dock repairs over the winter.
• Repairs to the North and South Jetties were completed in Q1 FY23 and the contract is being closed out at a final cost of around $30M.
• Coordinating with the other West Coast Districts to schedule hopper dredging for this year’s episode.  A combination of Government Dredges Essayons and Yaquina and West Coast Hopper Contract will be utilized to complete the work in FY24 based on planning completed in FY23.

FY  24 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Perform maintenance dredging of the Bar and Entrance Channels to the authorized project depths with the Government hopper dredge Essayons, and/or through a regional contract.  The FY24 regional hopper contract includes a base bid yardage from the B&E channel of 600KCY with an option for an additional 300KCY based on funding and equipment availability.
• Dredge the Interior Channels with the Government hopper dredge Yaquina as funding and equipment availability permits.  The FY23 Yaquina schedule is slated for about 8 days of dredging.  The schedule is contingent on successful annual dry dock repairs over the winter.
• Regional Planning with NWD and POD Districts for hopper dredging requirements and the annual regional hopper contract for FY25.

ISSUES AND OTHER INFORMATION

• The Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District is the Non-Federal Sponsor (NFS).
• Continued management and monitoring of the offshore disposal site, HOODS.
• Development of a nearshore dredged material placement demonstration project by placing entrance channel sandy material in water adjacent to the eroding north spit area.  Participation with EPA to expand HOODS disposal site, and possible include a nearshore annex to the site for beneficial disposal of sandy material in the littoral cell.  The CA Coastal Commission permit requires implementation of the nearshore demonstration project as soon as possible after completion of required NEPA analysis.  It is currently targeted for initial implementation in FY25.
• Continued shoreline monitoring as a condition of continuing to dispose dredge material at HOODS.
• Conduct comprehensive condition surveys of navigation structures to assess damages and prepare plans and estimates for needed repairs.

CONGRESSIONAL INTEREST

• 2^nd District, Rep. Jared Huffman

POINT OF CONTACT

• Deputy for Project Management, Thomas R. Williams, 415-503-6560

Updated on 29 February 2024

 
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