ST. HELENS, Ore. — Officials in Columbia County and the state of Oregon removed nine sunken boats from the Columbia River near St. Helens.
It was part of a statewide effort to remove abandoned and derelict boats from waterways that pose health and safety risks. These types of boats can cause water contamination and navigational hazards for others on waterways, according to the Oregon Department of State Lands. They can also damage nearby property.
"Cleaning up these vessels was a priority for the Columbia County community and will have immediate benefits for everyone who enjoys spending time on the river," said Josh Mulhollem, the waterways stewardship manager at the Oregon Department of State Lands.
Derelict and abandoned boats have been an ongoing issue in waterways across the Portland metro area. Removing them, however, can be an expensive task. The department estimated that it cost $236,000 to remove the nine recreational boats from the Columbia River. That price tag is covered by Oregon's Abandoned and Derelict Vessel Fund and federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act.
PHOTOS: Sunken boats removed from Columbia River
"Our community members have been advocating for these boats to be removed for years and we know how hazardous they are, potentially leaking pollutants or floating into navigation channels, but there hasn’t been funding until now," said Shaun McQuiddy with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office in a news release.
There has been a number of large removal projects over the past few years. In 2019, the Oregon Department of State Lands worked with the Oregon State Marine Board and other partners to remove 24 boats. Two former military vessels, the Alert and Sakarissa, were removed from the Columbia River in 2022. More recently, a 139-foot vessel named El Conquistador was removed from a dock in Coos County in August 2024.
In the coming weeks, an abandoned 115-foot vessel will be removed from St. Helens.
