Corps warns people to stay off jetties for safety

 rocks and sand With summer officially starting, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineersis reminding people to think about safety when near the jetties.Jetties were not constructed for recreation purposes and should notbe used for fishing, walking, driving or climbing because of thepotential hazards. They are there to break waves. And they can bedangerous places. Construction of the jetties began more than 100 years ago to helpmariners navigate between the Pacific Ocean and coastal ports, andwere never intended for recreational purposes, the Army Corps saidin a press release. Additional work has been performed on thejetties to lengthen and strengthen them. Despite that, waves canremove even the largest boulders from jetties, and underwatercurrents — which penetrate the structure — removesmaller rocks and sand from inside the jetty. This creates visibleand hidden dangers. The agency has discouraged people from walking on jetties,particularly Coos Bay’s north jetty, which was damaged bylast winter’s big storms. Open crevasses between large boulders create stepping hazards.Sinkholes, caused by drifting sand pushed up against the jettybeing eroded by moving water inside the structure, can give wayunexpectedly. Caverns within the structure, caused by the erosionof stones and sand, could be hidden below a thin surface andsuddenly collapse. Sea spray causes rock surfaces to becomeslippery. Sudden larger waves, even in calm weather, can knock aperson off balance or into the water. Waves and strong currentsnear the jetty can prevent safe recovery after a fall into thewater, the agency said.