Benthic invertebrates and sediment characteristics in subtidal areas adjacent to Rice Island and Miller Sands, 1993-94

In 1993, the Portland District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) contracted with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to study benthic invertebrates and sediments in subtidal areas adjacent to Rice Island and Miller Sands in the Columbia River estuary. The COE is considering modification of the aquatic habitats adjacent to Rice Island and Miller Sands to provide additional area for dredged-material disposal and to reduce the volume of material dredged annually from the navigation channel. Projects under consideration are the filling of Harrington Sump (an in-water, dredged-material disposal site near Rice Island) and the construction of pile dikes along the navigation channel sides of Rice Island and Miller Sands. The goal of the NMFS research study was to collect baseline benthic invertebrate and sediment data in these areas prior to any habitat modification. Contract no. E96930052