Many of the Port's projects involve mitigation actions
to protect public resources which include the environment. Highlights
of some of the Port's current mitigation actions are described below.
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| Location of Project Pier 1 Redevelopment Area and Fidalgo Bay Eelgrass Mitigation Site. |
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1. Fidalgo Bay Eelgrass Mitigation Site - The Port of Anacortes was awarded a $400,000 grant in 2005 from Skagit County's Distressed County Public Facilities Fund. This grant was awarded for Phase 1 of Project Pier 1, which involves construction of an advance eelgrass mitigation site in Fidalgo Bay. The Port will construct a 6-acre eelgrass habitat site in an otherwise unvegetated portion of Fidalgo Bay that is currently too deep to support eelgrass. The mitigation will offset the loss of existing eelgrass that will result from dredging and construction during shipyard redevelopment.
The mitigation site will be constructed by placing 3 to 4 feet of clean fill from maintenance dredging of the Swinomish Channel on the ocean floor to achieve a bottom elevation comparable to adjacent eelgrass habitat. This will be followed by planting and monitoring to assure successful colonization of the eelgrass. From a flat-top barge, a crane and clamshell bucket will be used to place gravel at the site. The gravel base will be covered with a finishing layer approximately 1 foot thick, suitable for eelgrass colonization. Construction work for Project Pier 1 cannot occur unless the impacts on aquatic habitat are mitigated; therefore, the advance compensation site is essential to the project. Moreover, the areas of eelgrass habitat created will exceed the amount needed for Project Pier 1, and will be available for upcoming Port development projects and other shoreline economic development projects that may have impacts to eelgrass and other aquatic resources.
2. Pier 2 Coke Loading Facility Wash Water Project Completed: Port Recieves "Compliance With Agreed Order" Letter from Ecology - The Port of Anacortes has a petroleum coke loading operation at its Pier 2 facility located at 3rd Street and R Avenue. Metropolitan Stevedore Company (Metro) is under contract with the Port of Anacortes to manage the operation. Petroleum coke from nearby refineries is brought to Pier 2 by truck and is loaded by conveyor onto ocean-going vessels. In June of 2002, the Port of Anacortes signed an Agreed Order with the Department of Ecology to address the discharge and treatment of wash water after coke loading events. During active periods of coke loading, wastewater is generated at the facility through operation of dust suppression, a truck tire wash system, and final pier wash-down. An Interlocal Agreement with the City of Anacortes allowed for a connection to the City's wastewater treatment plant for all operational wash water. The Plan was approved by Ecology in January 2005 and construction of the system was completed in March 2006. The system is effective in preventing all operational wash water from entering Guemes Channel.The "Compliance with Agreed Order" letter from the Department of Ecology means that the Port has satisfied Ecology's concern about stormwater runoff to the Channel and that no further action needs to be taken.
Pier 2 Coke Loading (PDF)
3. Curtis Wharf and Dock Ongoing Mitigation Efforts
- The Port currently has federal and state permits to dredge an area
along Guemes Channel next to Curtis Wharf and Dock. Special conditions
were required of the Port during the permitting process. A Macroalgae/kelp
Mitigation Plan was implemented to mitigate for the impacts of dredging.
Although dredging is not planned to proceed any time soon, a subtidal
rock reef mound was constructed in February 2001 to provide habitat
for kelp and algae. Information on the following hyperlink describes
the increase in macroalgae and kelp coverage over the past 5 years.
The rock reef was monitored for a total of 5 years to comply with
the permitting conditions.
If you have any questions regarding the work being conducted by the Port, please contact:
Connie Thoman
Environmental Administrator
Port Of Anacortes
P.O. Box 297
Anacortes, Wa 98221
Office: (360) 299-1818
Email: connie@portofanacortes.com
