Albeni Cove will be closed 2021
OLDTOWN — The U.S. Army Corps of Enginners' Albeni Cove recreation area will be closed in 2021 while work gets underway on bolstering Strong's Island.
The closure affects both the day-use area and the campground, according to the corps. The recreation area is being used to stage materials for bank-stabilization work on the Pend Oreille River island.
Thousands of pounds of rock and other materials are needed to construct a rock revetment on the island's western end to combat erosion. The project also includes a willow life with native species seeded and planted on the island's edge to encourage pollinators and increase their habitats, according to the corps.
Construction on the project is expected to occur from July to September 2021.
The corps is also enhancing recreation amenities at Albeni Cove during the scheduled closure.
Work includes realigning select campsites to better accommodate larger camping vehicles, adding gravel pads to campsites, removal of debris to decrease wildfire potential and renovations existing facilities.
Erosion from wave action and seasonal sloughing continue to be a problem on the downstream tip of the island, which is adversely affecting an archaeological site. The island was 33.56 acres in size when it was designated a part of the Pend Oreille Wildlife Management Area in 1956.
"Over time, the downstream tip of the island has been eroding back, changing the island from having a pointed tip to having a rounded tip today. Currently, Strong’s Island has 18.4 acres above 2,062 elevation, and 15.16 acres inundated acres during the summer full pool," a draft environmental analysis states.
The purpose of this project is to mitigate adverse effects to the archaeological site and to
stop erosion and loss of land. Stream bank erosion on the island has occurred due to bank
slumping events during winter drawdowns of the reservoir by the Albeni Falls Dam and wind driven waves and waves from recreational motor boats. A long-term solution that curtails the wave-caused erosion along the Strong’s Island shoreline is needed in order to protect the archaeological site.