Douglas County PUD adds shoreline armor along Columbia Cove

BREWSTER – A Douglas County PUD contracting crew began a shoreline stabilization project around the perimeter of Columbia Cove Park on August 13 and is making steady progress with block and sand bag installation along the shoreline. 

Brewster Public Works Director Lee Webster told city council members earlier this month that the PUD would begin armoring the shoreline in mid-August to prevent further erosion of the embankment.

The PUD began lowering the river level after the Brewster Salmon Derby to allow for better access to the cove perimeter.

The PUD awarded the contract to Rains Contracting of Malott who submitted the successful bid of $265,373, said PUD Public Information Officer Meghan Vibbert, to the Quad last Tuesday, August 28. Work is expected to be completed by the end of September. 

“Erosion along the shoreline at Columbia Cove Park in Brewster has been an ongoing issue for many years,” said Vibbert. “Several large trees are being undermined and are at risk of falling into the river and lawn areas are continuing to recede to the point of exposing the irrigation system.”

Vibbert said the project includes a stair-stepped retaining wall of precast concrete made to look like natural stone installed along the lawn area, with a large cobble-vegetated retaining wall around the trees.

Brewster Clerk-Treasurer Misty Ruiz said city officials had requested that spots to beach boats on the sand be left around the perimeter. Boaters like to pull their boats onto to the beach to access the park rather than tie up at the more distant docks or trailer their boats out of the water. The PUD design drawing shows four separate areas around the cove perimeter where boat landing spaces will be included.