Columbia River Channel Deepening

PNWA is pleased to announce that the Columbia River channel deepening received an additional $26.6 million in stimulus package funding to complete the project. This final increment of funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) will allow the Corps of Engineers to remove one mile of rock near St. Helens and complete all of the other work necessary to provide a 43-foot navigation channel from the Mouth of the Columbia River to the Ports of Portland and Vancouver.

The federal navigation channel in the Lower Columbia River is 110 miles long and 40 feet deep, and has been dredged to ensure the safe passage of cargo ships for more than 100 years. This channel provides over 40,000 local jobs and supports over 40 million tons of cargo each year; valued at $16 billion in 2004. Currently, over 80% of the vessels in the transpacific trade are contrained by this 40-foot channel depth. It is vital to the Pacific Northwest's economy to allow dredging to 43 feet, enabling larger, more efficient vessels to import and export from all Columbia River ports.

Supporting Materials

PNWA's Channel Deepening Fact Sheet
Stimulus funding received to complete the Columbia River channel deepening
Northwest Senate delegation supports $36M in FY2009 for channel deepening
Northwest House delegation supports $36M in FY2009 for channel deepening
Four Governors' Letter to OMB
Columbia Snake River System Fact Sheet
CSRS System Navigation Needs on the Horizon
America's Inland Waterway System