Over 18 miles of the lower Columbia River navigation channel -- from River Mile (RM) 3 to RM 21 near Astoria -- have now been deepened from 40 to 43 feet by the Sugar Island hopper dredge.

Last week, the Sugar Island began deepening nine additional miles from RM 95 to RM 104 near Portland/Vancouver. The Sugar Island is stockpiling dredge material in a temporary disposal site near RM 101. Just last week, Port of Portland's pipeline Dredge "Oregon” (pictured above) began their part of the channel deepening effort to pump ashore 500,000 cubic yards of material from the temporary disposal site to the Gateway upland disposal site owned by the Port of Vancouver where it will be used for beneficial development. According to the Corps, this two-part method of disposal is much more economical in areas where disposal alternatives are limited.

Once these upper nine miles have been completed in mid-December, over 25 percent of the channel will have been deepened from 40 to 43 feet. One year of channel deepening down...three more years to go!

President Bush recently signed the Fiscal Year 2006 Energy and Water Development Act, which includes $15 million for the Columbia River Channel Deepening project as well as $17 million to repair the South Jetty at the mouth of the river. This appropriation, when combined with already-appropriated state matching funds, will deepen approximately 25 percent more of the navigation channel between the ocean and Portland/Vancouver in 2006.

President Bush and the entire Northwest Congressional delegation worked collaboratively to obtain this critically important funding. In particular, credit is due to the Pacific Northwest Members of the Appropriations Committees: Senators Patty Murray (WA), Larry Craig (ID), and Conrad Burns (MT) and Congressmen Mike Simpson (ID) and Denny Rehberg (MT).

Congress has now appropriated a total of $34 million ($15 million for FY06; $9 million for FY05; $3.5 million for FY04; $2 million for FY03; and $4.5 million for FY01). Since Oregon and Washington have appropriated a total of $55.4 million for the project, Congress must still appropriate about $65 million more to complete the $150.5 million project.

Decades of damaging ocean conditions have worn down the jetties protecting the mouth of the Columbia River, but jetty repairs are underway. The Corps of Engineers awarded a $4.9 million North Jetty repair contract in April to Tapani Underground Inc. of Battle Ground, Washington. With the additional $17 million included in the FY2006 Energy and Water Development Act, repairs may now be contracted for the South Jetty. About 71,000 tons of stone has been required to repair the most severely damaged sections of the North Jetty. Tapani Underground transported the jetty stones -- averaging 10 tons each -- to the site by truck from various quarries.

The jetties create more defined and concentrated flows to help maintain a stable river channel location, depth, and navigational safety. Jetty construction starts with a bed of rocks being placed on the sandy ocean floor. Larger boulders are then placed to form the main body of the jetty. Progressively larger boulders are added in layers to form the outer "armor" shell of the structure. The largest of the boulders (weighing 30 tons to 40 tons each) are used on the jetty's seaward side and at the tips where the wave action and ocean currents are most powerful in order to resist the constant onslaught of the sea.

North Jetty: The 2.5-mile long North Jetty was completed in 1917 to help stabilize shoaling at the mouth of the river. Two subsequent repairs were made; the last one completed in 1965. About two-tenths of a mile at the tip of the North Jetty has eroded and is no longer functional.

South Jetty: The initial 4.5-mile section of the South Jetty was completed in 1896, with a 2.4-mile extension completed in 1914. Eight subsequent repairs have been completed; the last one in 1982. Approximately eight-tenths of a mile at the outer tip of the jetty has eroded and is no longer functional.

Jetty “A”: A 0.3-mile long spur jetty was also added in 1939 to the jetty system approximately three miles upriver from the tips of the North and South Jetties. Jetty "A" extends into the river from the Washington side and is designed to help maintain the alignment and depth of the deep-water navigation channel in that area.

Senator Patty Murray (WA) deserves special commendation for appropriating two years of federal funds for this work. These long-overdue jetty repairs will strengthen Columbia River navigational safety and maritime commerce.

This "Spotlight" column is a new series highlighting the important work of a member of the Columbia River Channel Coalition. This month we focus on the Port of Longview:

The Port of Longview, Washington has been operating since 1921 and today has eight marine terminals and 300 acres of available industrial property on the deep-draft Columbia River, just 66 river miles from the ocean with easy access to Interstate 5 and major rail lines.

The Port plays an important role in economic development by creating jobs in manufacturing and international trade. It develops infrastructure to support these jobs at the marine terminal and industrial park complex, creating a positive economic ripple that strengthens the local community. The Port also works vigilantly with the U.S. Coast Guard to provide safety and security at its terminal facilities.

Cargos handled by the Port have diversified and include all types of bulk cargos and breakbulk commodities such as steel, lumber, logs, pulp, paper and project cargo.

Port of Longview Commissioners Dan Buell (President), Walt Barham (Vice President), and Larry Larson (Secretary) set policies that guide the development, growth, and operation of all the Port's facilities and functions. Ken O'Hollaren has served as the Executive Director of the Port of Longview since 1988.

This "Congressional Corner" column is a new series sharing the perspective of Northwest Members of Congress -- in their own words -- on Columbia River issues. Last month, we featured Senator Patty Murray. This month, we highlight part of a letter sent just today by Northwest Members of the U.S. House of Representatives to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Josh Bolten:

"The Channel Improvement Project will modernize a transportation route that provides low-cost, efficient access to export markets for farms and businesses throughout the Pacific Northwest and Midwest. We are very pleased that the Corps of Engineers will make significant progress in constructing the project this year.

"Given the $15 million appropriation for FY2006, about $65 million in federal funds will be required to complete the project. If $40 million were appropriated for FY2007, it would be reasonable to expect that the balance could be secured in FY2008 - finishing the project and delivering its transportation cost savings to U.S. exporters. As OMB reviews the FY2007 budget request for the Corps of Engineers, we ask that you include $40 million to continue construction of the project at the most efficient rate."

This letter was signed and sent today by U.S. Representatives Brian Baird (WA), Earl Blumenauer (OR), Peter DeFazio (OR), Norm Dicks (WA), Doc Hastings (WA), Darlene Hooley (OR), Jay Inslee (WA), Rick Larsen (WA), Cathy McMorris (WA), Butch Otter (ID), Denny Rehberg (MT), Dave Reichert (WA), Mike Simpson (ID), Greg Walden (OR), and David Wu (OR). We thank them all!

We welcome the newest member who recently joined the Columbia River Channel Coalition:

Please feel free to contact the Columbia River Channel Coalition (CRCC) with any questions, concerns, or information requests. Thank you so much for your partnership in building a stronger economy through maritime trade.