Pile Dike Repair Program Industry Day NWP 22JAN2026.pdf
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This is a project presentation on the Pile Dike Repair Program for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, prepared by Project Manager Matthew Craig on January 22, 2026.
Pile dikes are hydraulic structures consisting of vertical wooden or steel piles connected by hardware and spreader bars, with stone enrockment at their bases. The 233 existing pile dikes on the Lower Columbia River (Reach 1-5, river miles 4-137) were incrementally constructed between 1885 and 1969, spanning 236,650 linear feet (45 miles). These structures are essential for Columbia River navigation and serve multiple functions: reducing maintenance dredging requirements, providing channel stabilization, protecting dredged material placement sites, and preventing riverbank erosion. Pile dikes work by creating low-flow velocity zones along shorelines while concentrating high-velocity flow in the navigation channel, thereby stabilizing island morphology and holding dredged material in place.
Repairs are needed due to progressive deterioration of connecting hardware, pile degradation, and loss of scour-protecting stone. The document outlines an active repair program with planned contract awards spanning 2026-2030, including projects at Cottonwood ($10-25M), Miller-Rice ($25-100M), Skamokawa ($25-100M), Washougal ($25-100M), Brookfield ($25-100M), and Pillar-Rock ($10-25M). Two projects are currently under construction: Sand Island ($52M, awarded 2022) and Baker Bay ($18M, awarded 2025). Typical repair work includes installing new piles or enhanced enrockment, adding scour protection, constructing offset pile dikes, and shoreline connections. Key challenges include barge-supported work in a dynamic river environment, environmental and cultural resource compliance requirements (including in-water work periods, bird nesting restrictions, marine mammal sound mitigation, turbidity monitoring, and wetland impact mitigation), and the need to leave partially completed work in a non-degradable condition during offseason periods.
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Pile Dike Repair Program
Matthew Craig, Project Manager Jan 22, 2026
AGENDA
Agenda:
• What is a Pile Dike?
• Purpose of Pile Dikes
• Pile Dike History
• Why Repairs are Needed
• Dredged Material Management Plan
• Future Projects
• Typical Work Components
• Challenges
3WHAT IS A PILE DIKE?
WHAT IS A PILE DIKE?
PURPOSE
• Pile Dikes Are Essential for Columbia River Navigation.
• Pile Dike Functions:
– Reduce maintenance dredging requirements.
– Provide channel stabilization.
– Protect dredged material sites.
– Provide bank protection from erosion.
8PURPOSE
Low flow velocity reduces shoreline erosion, helps stabilize banks.
Constriction from dikes results in high velocity flow in navigation channel – reduces sediment/dredging
Low flow velocity reduces shoreline erosion, helps stabilize banks.
Pile Dike
9PURPOSE
Pile Dike downstream flow
PILE DIKE HISTORY
WHY REPAIRS ARE NEEDED
Loss of piles from deterioration of connecting hardware and piles, progressive loss of scour protecting stone
Sand Island pile dike – pre-construction
Missing piles
Scour where piles are missing
• 20 Year (draft) plan for performing routine dredging and placement of dredged material.
• Critical to navigation mission.
• Requires repair and maintenance of existing pile dikes to maintain their function.
• Requires new dredged material placement sites and new hydraulic structures to protect them from erosion.
DREDGED MATERIAL MANAGEMENT PLAN
PILE DIKE REPAIRS – PROJECT LOCATIONS
Astoria
Longview
Scappoose
Vancouver
UPCOMING PROJECTS
Project Status Planned Contract
Award (year) Expected Cost ($M) Pile Dikes - Active Repair Projects Sand Island Construction (2022) 52 (actual) Baker Bay Construction (2025) 18 (actual) Cottonwood Design 2026 10 to 25 Miller-Rice Design 2026 25 to 100 Skamokawa Design 2027 25 to 100 Washougal Design 2028 25 to 100 Brookfield Design 2029 25 to 100 Pillar-Rock Design 2030 10 to 25 Future Pile Dike Repair Projects Planning 2031-2045 400 Future New Structure Projects Planning 2029 - 2035 300
PILE DIKE REPAIRS – TYPICAL WORK
Increased enrockment elevation replaces pilings to achieve same hydraulic function
Timber
Steel
Sand Island Repairs: In Construction
• Barge supported work for stone placement and pile driving.
• Dynamic river environment – site conditions continuously shift due to sediment movement.
• Partially completed work must be left in condition where it won’t degrade during offseason.
• Requires obtaining environmental and cultural resource compliance.
• Several environmental compliance consultations with long lead times (affects contract award schedule)
• Typical construction requirements include:
• In-Water-Work Periods restrict when work in the water can be performed.
• Restricted work during specific bird nesting seasons.
• Specific requirements for pile driving to limit sound impacts to marine mammals.
• May need bird and marine mammal observation during construction activities.
• Wetland impact mitigation sometimes required.
• May need stormwater prevention permits for staging areas (land clearing).
• Turbidity monitoring during rock placement; results may affect placement process.
CHALLENGES
THANK YOU
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