PHOTOS: Nine sunken boats removed from Columbia River in St. Helens

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- State and county officials in St. Helens worked to remove nine sunken, abandoned boats from the Columbia River this week.

This cleanup is a part of a statewide effort, coming after the Oregon Legislature approved $18.8 million to begin removing vessels from waterways and developing a statewide abandoned and derelict vessel (ADV) program back in 2022.

The eventual goal is to not only clean up the river, but prevent potential property damage and navigation impacts, officials said.

“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,” said Lieutenant Shaun McQuiddy of Columbia County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO). “But there hasn’t been funding until now.”

Although CCSO has been able to work with the Oregon State Marine Board to tag abandoned boats for removal, they had not previously had funding to completely removed and dismantle the boats.

The cost of removing the nine boats - dubbed the St. Helens cluster - is estimated to be around $236,000. The funds are being covered by the state's ADV fund, as well as federal money from the American Rescue Plan Act.

Other portions of the state's ADV fund will be - or have already been - split between efforts to clean up the Willamette, coastal bays or inlets and other waterways statewide.