[OSMB-News] News Release -Dangerous Shoaling on the Columbia and Deschutes River Convergence

[Ashley Massey]

For Immediate Release	Date: Friday, October 02, 2009 

Dangerous Shoaling on the Columbia and Deschutes River Convergence

On October 1, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Portland District Office contacted the Marine Board to report potentially dangerous shoaling at the convergence of the Deschutes and Columbia Rivers in Wasco County.  The Corps reports that several boaters have run aground in this area and that the shoaling has narrowed the river channel.  Boaters could easily hit the shoal and be ejected if traveling at greater speed, resulting in serious injury on top of costly damage to the boat. 

Shoaling is a sandy elevation of the bottom of a body of water and constitutes a navigational hazard.  Shoaling is common in rivers because they are dynamic systems, constantly changing with melting snow pack and geological erosion.  The shoaling in this area has been gradually building up for several years. A flood event could potentially wash the sand further downstream, but until such an event occurs, boaters must use extreme caution.  

The Wasco County and Sherman County Marine Patrols will be placing hazard buoys around the shoaling to alert boaters of the danger, as soon as possible.

The Marine Board wants to remind boaters to use a depth finder, stay as close as possible to the navigation channel without impeding commercial traffic, keep a sharp lookout, maintain a safe speed and to always wear a life jacket. 
	
For more information visit http://www.boatoregon.com/OSMB/safety/safety.shtml.
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Ashley A. Massey
Public Information Officer
Oregon State Marine Board
503-378-2623
503-378-8587 ext. 82623
ashley.massey at state.or.us
www.boatoregon.com
www.twitter.com/marineboard

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