Port of Anacortes Former Scott Paper Mill Cleanup Project

A complex cleanup project that included dredging and capping of contaminated sediment, construction of two breakwaters, habitat enhancement, upgrade of a seasonal small craft facility and installation of new aids to navigation was completed by the Port of Anacortes, Washington in collaboration with the Department of Ecology, Washington and potentially responsible parties (PRP). The complexity of project site physical processes, extent of dredging, and strict regulatory requirements on the clean-up action necessitated an innovative engineering approach to all above elements of the project. The approach also included application of the most advanced coastal engineering modeling tools including wave, tidal flow, sediment transport and stability, and coastal geomorphology hydrodynamic simulators. Based on analysis of the numerical modeling results, optimal engineering decisions were made for design and construction of detached breakwaters, dredging and removing a portion of the contaminated sediment, capping of the remaining contaminated sediment, and removing the old deteriorating creosoted sheetpile wall breakwater. Also, the results of the study determined the possibility of creating a sheltered eelgrass habitat and year-round small craft facility for different types of activities such as fishing, kayaking, and sailing.