diff --git a/src/parameterizations/vertical/MOM_ALE_sponge.F90 b/src/parameterizations/vertical/MOM_ALE_sponge.F90
index fe6072681c..ce6dab906f 100644
--- a/src/parameterizations/vertical/MOM_ALE_sponge.F90
+++ b/src/parameterizations/vertical/MOM_ALE_sponge.F90
@@ -960,12 +960,16 @@ subroutine apply_ALE_sponge(h, dt, G, GV, US, CS, Time)
       damp = dt * CS%Iresttime_col(c)
       I1pdamp = 1.0 / (1.0 + damp)
       tmp_val2(1:nz_data) = CS%Ref_val(m)%p(1:nz_data,c)
+      do k=1,nz
+        h_col(k)=h(i,j,k)
+      enddo
       if (CS%time_varying_sponges) then
+
         call remapping_core_h(CS%remap_cs, nz_data, CS%Ref_val(m)%h(1:nz_data,c), tmp_val2, &
-                              CS%nz, h_col, tmp_val1, h_neglect, h_neglect_edge)
+             CS%nz, h_col, tmp_val1, h_neglect, h_neglect_edge)
       else
         call remapping_core_h(CS%remap_cs, nz_data, CS%Ref_h%p(1:nz_data,c), tmp_val2, &
-                              CS%nz, h_col, tmp_val1, h_neglect, h_neglect_edge)
+             CS%nz, h_col, tmp_val1, h_neglect, h_neglect_edge)
       endif
       !Backward Euler method
       if (CS%id_sp_tendency(m) > 0) tmp(i,j,1:nz) = CS%var(m)%p(i,j,1:nz)