The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in partnership with local sponsor the Port of Everett, will begin maintenance dredging of the Snohomish River upstream and downstream settling basins. Contractor, Portable Hydraulic Dredging, Inc, from Eagle Creek, Ore., is on-site and began dredging on Oct. 27th. Hydraulic dredging will begin in the upstream settling basin where 100,000 cubic yards of material will be removed and placed on City of Everett’s property. This material is available for beneficial use by the port and city. About 50,000 cubic yards of downstream dredged material will beneficially nourish areas on the Port of Everett-owned Jetty Island. Whenever possible, dredged material is beneficially used to restore, protect or create aquatic and wetland habitats. The Corps’ Seattle District Dredged Materials Management Office implements the interagency Dredged Material Management Program in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Washington state departments of Ecology and Natural Resources. These four agencies collaboratively work to manage and regulate disposal of dredged material from dredging projects in Washington state. Prior to dredging, the material is tested and the Corps prepares a biological evaluation in accordance with the Endangered Species Act. The Corps assures full compliance with the act prior to starting and potential impacts are avoided through implementation of timing restrictions designated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The $1.3 million project is expected to be done by mid-February. The Corps began maintenance dredging of the Snohomish River Project in 1910. The project, consisting of deep and shallow-draft navigation channels and two settling basins, serves the Port of Everett. Boaters in the area should slow down, pay attention to rig markings and be cautious around the operations.