The reflector

The Port of Ridgefield successfully removed five abandoned boats from the Lake River in July and plans to remove ten more in the coming months.

The operation is part of a collaboration between the port and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) as part of its Abandoned Vessel Removal Program. Penny Hughes, environmental project manager for the Port of Ridgefield, highlighted the dangers posed by abandoned vessels, noting that they can pose both a navigational hazard and a threat to the environment.

“This work is critical to the safety and well-being of our community and the environment. It is truly a win-win for everyone,” Hughes said in a press release.

The project began in late 2023 after Ridgefield resident Eagle Scout Christian Stiever alerted the port to several abandoned boats. Stiever and local volunteers mapped the locations of those boats in April. After the port posted notices on five identified boats, a contracted company removed them in July.

“We are grateful that Christian brought this issue to our attention and that we were able to work with him and others in the community to address it,” Port Manager Randy Mueller said in a news release. “This is a great example of how the port and other public entities can work together for the benefit of the community while also being good stewards of the environment.”

The port has identified ten more abandoned boats for future removal and will work with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Clark County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol to locate more.

The cost of removal will be fully covered by the DNR. For more information about the program, visit dnr.wa.gov/derelict-vessels.