• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• NOAA Fisheries
• U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
• Ports of St. Helens and Portland in Oregon and Kalama, Longview, Vancouver and Woodland in Washington
• Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality
• Oregon’s Department of Land Conservation and Development
• Washington’s Department of Ecology
  

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about the adaptive management process.

U.S. Senator Patty Murray Hosts Sw Washington Trade & Transportation Roundtable:
On February 24, 2005, U.S. Senator Patty Murray convened leaders from the region’s ports, transportation, business and trade representatives to discuss challenges in getting goods to market. The leaders who spoke at this meeting all mentioned the importance of deepening the Columbia River navigation channel. Another key regional trade and transportation priority that was discussed is improving the infrastructure for railroad capacity.

Marine, rail, and highways are each critical to sustaining international trade, jobs, and the economy in this region. Each mode of transportation relies on the others to continue to annually transport over $15 billion worth of cargo via the Columbia River.

Senator Murray is on the appropriations subcommittees for Energy and Water Appropriations and for Transportation, which are key leadership positions to receiving federal dollars for maintaining our region’s transportation infrastructure. We thank the Senator for her continued strong advocacy for the Channel Deepening project and related issues and her hard work to get federal funding to sustain and expand economic development and trade lanes in this region.

Coalition Supports Lower Columbia River Solutions:
The Lower Columbia River Solutions Group (LCSG) was convened by the Governors of Oregon and Washington in 2002 as a diverse, bi-state group of local, state, and federal governmental and non-governmental stakeholders interested in and/or affected by dredge material disposal activities in the Lower Columbia River area. Columbia River Channel Coalition members have been involved with the LCSG since its inception and the Coalition is contributing $50,000 to the LCSG for work conducted in 2005. We are making this contribution as one more way of demonstrating the commitment of upriver ports to finding solutions to critical issues in the Lower Columbia River.

The following are LCSG 2005 Work Program Priorities:

• Assist in funding jetty repair;
• Continue to examine the Corps’ least-cost policy issues and pursue federal changes if needed;
• Examine near-shore alternatives to deep water disposal of dredge material in Oregon and Washington;
• Work with OSU’s Institute for Natural Resources, NOAA Fisheries, and US Fish & Wildlife Service to launch a collaborative scientific sediment study;
• Work with OSU’s Institute to launch a collaborative scientific/technical study to reach agreement on sediment transport and sediment budget issues;
• Continue to monitor past LCSG projects.
  

LCSG Project In Progress:
LCSG initiated the Near-shore Demonstration Project to provide a longer-term solution to erosion of the south jetty at the mouth of the Columbia River and to address the depletion of the natural sand volumes in the near-shore environment. In addition, this project provides a way to find alternatives to deep-water disposal.

The Near-shore Demonstration Project is scheduled to occur in August 2005. This very focused project will demonstrate the effects of “enhanced dumping” near the south jetty, before proceeding to other steps. A more comprehensive demonstration project is proposed for 2007.

The current plan is to take 30,000 cubic yards of dredged material from the mouth of the Columbia River and place it on the southern side of the south jetty in the near-shore environment. The Corps has agreed to provide the use of the Essayons (Hopper Dredge) at no additional cost to this project. This dredge has doors that open at the bottom of the vessel to release the material. It’s planned that the doors will only be opened slightly and the vessel will move at a faster pace than normal as disposal occurs. The objective is to achieve a thin layer of material of less than 3-inches on the ocean’s bottom to minimize impacts to crabs and other living aquatic species. A plan has been developed to monitor the accumulation, but will cost about $40,000 to implement. Those funds are being sought at this time. The Port of Astoria has agreed to act as the sponsor for the regulatory permits that are expected to be acquired sometime next month.

Corps Confirms Ability To Complete $40 Million Of Work In 2006:
The Coalition is requesting $40 million in the federal Energy and Water Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 2006. Recently, an official from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers mistakenly said that the Corps only had the capacity to complete $15 million in work during FY 2006. Subsequent to that comment, Corps officials in Washington, D.C. and in Portland have re-confirmed that the Corps does indeed have the capacity to complete $40 million worth of work during FY 2006 and that this level of funding would allow project construction to proceed on the most efficient, lowest cost schedule. In addition, businesses and farmers in our region need the economic benefits that would be immediately realized through investing $40 million next year in constructing a deeper channel.

Columbia River Presentations Available:
If you know civic organization, business, union, or local government would like an updated presentation about the importance of maritime trade to our region and the goals, implications, and current status of the Columbia River channel deepening project, we would be delighted to provide an informative and interesting presentation at no cost. Feel free to contact the Coalition office to arrange for a presentation.

Did You Know?
Washington is one of the nation’s largest wheat-exporting states, with up to 90% of its production exported each year. Aggressive programs supported by Washington wheat producers have successfully marketed Southwest Washington to countries with traditionally rice-based diets. In other parts of the world, soft white wheat from the Pacific Northwest is the wheat of choice for native flatbreads. Overall, about 50% of U.S. Wheat is exported. About 40% is exported via the Columbia River. America’s wheat is one of its largest agricultural exports, and contributes to a positive agricultural trade balance. Washington wheat exports depend on the ability of the industry to provide a consistently high-quality product that meets the specifications of a variety of wheat customers.


Please contact us with any questions, concerns, or information requests. Thanks for your partnership in building a stronger economy through maritime trade.

Dave Hunt, Executive Director
Theeme Holznagel, Office Manager
Columbia River Channel Coalition
(503) 285-6343 (voice), (503) 285-6350 (fax)
CRCC@ChannelCoalition.com (e-mail)