PORTLAND, Ore. - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Portland District, has completed major rehabilitation to the South Jetty at the mouth of the Columbia River, marking the end of a decade-plus effort to restore the three jetties that protect one of the nation’s busiest trade corridors.
Work on the $171.3 million South Jetty wrapped up in August 2025 after six construction seasons.
“The completion of the South Jetty rehabilitation reflects our commitment to delivering vital engineering solutions that support both the local economy and interstate commerce,” said Col. Dale Caswell, Portland District commander. “Thanks to our partners and the hands-on effort of hundreds of experts – from geologists to excavator operators – we completed this extraordinary mission.”
Construction work carried out by contractor J.E. McAmis included rebuilding three miles of the jetty’s trunk and head with more than 462,000 tons of stone, some weighing up to 40 tons each. The project required stone from seven quarries across Oregon and Washington; stone was chosen for density and resistance to weathering to withstand the Pacific Ocean’s relentless waves. The most dangerous and technically demanding work came at the head of the Sout Jetty, where crews battled heavy surf and overtopping waves, while using GPS-guided excavators to place the largest stones with precision.
The South Jetty, built between 1885 and 1895, stretches 6.6 miles along the Oregon side of the Columbia River entrance. It was the last of the system’s three jetties to undergo major rehabilitation. Jetty A’s $20 million rehabilitation was complete in 2016, and the North Jetty’s $42 million rehabilitation wrapped up in 2019.
The jetties stabilize the six-mile-long federal navigation channel at the river’s mouth, where extreme conditions routinely generate 10- to 20-foot waves. According to the Port of Portland, more than 40,000 jobs in the region depend on seaport activity along the lower Columbia River. The Columbia/Snake River system is the nation’s top export gateway for wheat and barley and a leading hub for wood products, minerals, and automobile imports.
Repairs began after years of damage from powerful waves and increasing storm activity weakened the century-old structures. Previous interim fixes were completed in the mid-2000s, but full rehabilitation required new contracts beginning in 2016.
With the South Jetty work now complete, USACE has restored all three jetties to reliable condition for the first time in decades.
“Restoring the Mouth of the Columbia jetties secures safe passage and economic stability for our region—this milestone protects what matters most to our communities and nation,” said Neil Maunu, Executive Director of the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association “The jetties are vital to supporting the nation's largest wheat export gateway, and in 2023 facilitated more than 51 million tons of cargo movement, worth over $25 billion, and maintaining them is key to preserving past investments and creating future opportunities for economic growth.”
On Sept. 5, USACE recognized the completion of the jetty construction with a ribbon-cutting ceremony near the Columbia River South Jetty Observation Tower at Fort Stevens State Park, Oregon. Among the attendees were U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici from Oregon’s 1st Congressional District, Maunu from PNWA, USACE leadership, Clatsop County Commission Chair Mark Kujala, Warrenton Mayor Henry Balinsifer, and representatives from the project contractor, J.E. McAmis.