Marine Organisms Buried

The marine organisms removed from the Agate Beach derelict dock were buried landward from the site. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife staff and volunteers removed about a ton and a half of plant and animal material. Oregon Parks and Recreation Department staff and a contractor excavated a hole approximately eight feet deep far above the furthest reach of high tides and storm surges. They emptied the bags into it and filled in the hole. Since the organisms require salt water to survive, this disposal method is safe and reliable.

No further action is expected at the site until a decision is made about disposing of the dock, a decision which should be made in the next couple of days. Two basic options are under review: towing it off the beach to a nearby port or harbor, or demolishing it on site and disposing of it in a landfill. No further information is available about the feasibility or potential costs of either method; we're still weighing the options.

Japanese Dock at Agate Beach

Agate Beach is open. Please stay off the dock.

June 7, 2012, Update 6: 1:15 p.m.

A team of about a dozen staff and volunteers organized by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife made quick work of removing marine organisms from the dock on the sand at Agate Beach. Workers with shovels, rakes and other tools first scraped the structure clean, then briefly used low-pressure torches to sterilize the dock.

The material was bagged and hauled up the beach well above the high tide line to store it temporarily. Fish and Wildlife staff and volunteers remove marine organisms from the dock.

For updated information - check these links.
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A short burst of flame to finish the cleaning. dock 001y.jpg