Harbor Commissioners discuss long-term solutions to mud build-up

SAMOA, Ca (KIEM) – Harbor Commissioners and the Humboldt Bay Harbor District held a meeting Wednesday afternoon talking about long-term solutions to prevent mud from building up in the water again.

Right now the federal channels are clear to pass at the Harbor Entrance. Next month Woodley Island Marina will be dredged.  The issue is to be able to continue to dredge without disturbing sea life, like the longfin smelt whose home is in the marina. But the Harbor Commissioners say they would be disturbing less than one percent of the habitat out in Humboldt Bay.

“Regulatory agencies are concerned over eelgrass and over a fish, the longfin smelt. Even though we purchased a dredge with funds from PG&E for $1.5 million. It’s perfectly workable, and it’s been used before in the Bay. We haven’t been able to use it,” said Patrick Higgins Harbor Commissioner Division 5.

“Woodley Island, where our boats tie-up, is so shallow that most of the crab boats have had to move to the deep end of the pool, which is A, B, and C docs. In order to have enough water between the docs that we can come and go when we want to,” said Dave Bitts Commercial Fisherman.