Island near Tri-Cities closes permanently due to misuse

PASCO – Officials said an island in the Columbia River near the Tri-Cities has been trashed repeatedly by visitors and will close permanently.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said in a news release Friday they closed Borgans Island, which is also known as Chiawana Island, on the river between Pasco and Kennewick.

The island was temporarily closed in 2014 when land managers found extensive human waste, scattered trash, broken glass, soiled diapers and evidence of fires and vegetation damage.

The small island has no visitor services or facilities. Corps staff reopened the island in 2015 after cleanup efforts but they say similar activities have occurred, resulting in environmental damage and potential public health and safety issues.

District Commander Lt. Col. Tim Vail said staff will install closure signs on the island and that monitoring and law enforcement patrols will continue.