On March 2, the Coalition sponsored a special Columbia River briefing in Portland for Congressional district and state-based staff. This was a prime opportunity for Coalition business, labor union, agricultural, and maritime leaders to update Congressional staff about the status of the Columbia River Channel Improvement Project as we seek $40 million in federal funds for the project in Fiscal Year (FY) 2007.

The Congressional staff were informed that 28 miles of the Columbia River navigation channel were deepened in 2005, completing 25 percent of the total project. In 2006, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to use $15 million in appropriated federal funds along with Oregon and Washington state matching funds to deepen another major section of the navigation channel beginning at River Mile 21 (near Grays Bay and Cathlamet Bay). The dredged material from this section of the project will be placed in the permitted ocean deep-water disposal site. The Corps will also continue work on eco-system restoration components of the project.

The Coalition is requesting $40 million in FY 2007 to continue this important work. Recognizing tight federal budget constraints, the Congressional staff were informed that an FY 2007 federal appropropriation of at least $25 million would serve port facilities in Rainier, Oregon and Longview and Kalama, Washington, enabling customers to immediately gain the economic benefits of the deeper channel by loading ships more fully. In addition to these known benefits, Port of Longview Executive Director and CRCC President Ken O’Hollaren observed that "We don’t really know the new opportunities that will present themselves until the channel is deepened.”

Other benefits of a deeper channel that were outlined by participants at the briefing:

Research and monitoring continue to be high priorities. Special studies are being conducted on sturgeon ($1.3 million contract with USGS to meet environmental requirements) and smelt. Strict water quality and turbidity guidelines are ensuring that the project remains environmentally sound.

Information was also provide about the dangerous condition of the Jetties at the Mouth of the Columbia River. The north and south jetties help maintain the channel's location and depth while protecting navigational safety for ships of all sizes. Short-term repair work was completed on the North Jetty in 2005 and will be done on the South Jetty in 2006. An 18-month comprehensive study has just begun to identify the long-term repair work that must be completed to project these critical components of Columbia River transportation infrastructure.

Thanks to the Congressional staff members who participated in this briefing: Hillary Barbour (Congressman Blumenauer, OR); Mary Gautreaux (Senator Wyden, OR); Erin Hyppa (Congressman Baird, WA); Suzanne Kunse (Congresswoman Hooley, OR); Mindi Linquist (Senator Murray, WA); Ann Richardson (Congressman Wu, OR); and Jason Vaillancourt and Rian Windsheimer (Senator Smith, OR).

We also extend a special thanks to the participating Coalition members who provided their first-hand expertise and perspective on the importance of deepening the channel and repairing the jetties.

To address the erosion challenges facing residents of Wahkiakum County's Puget Island, on Wednesday the Coalition brought together a work group of county leaders, Congressional offices, federal agencies, and ports. Our goals are to pursue the permitting, environmental, and funding approvals to enable the placement of dredged sand in two deep underwater scour holes near the Island as well as direct beach nourishment on the Island to reverse the erosion that is threatening several homes as well as the county-owned sandpit and park.

Many hurdles remain, but we thank the participants who are working collaboratively to address these very challenging issues. Special thanks to Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray and Congressman Brian Baird for their tireless efforts to assist Wahkiakum County residents. Stay tuned for future progress reports.

Several Coalition partners have taken their members to Washington, D.C. this month to lobby on behalf of channel deepening and other issues. We extend our thanks to the Oregon Wheat Growers League, Pacific Northwest Waterways Association, International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Oregon Farm Bureau & Washington Farm Bureau for their diligent and effective advocacy during March for maritime trade on the Columbia River.

This "Spotlight" column highlights the work of a member of the Columbia River Channel Coalition. This month we focus on one of our founding members, the Port of Portland, Oregon:

Established in 1891 to dredge a 25-foot deep shipping channel from the Pacific Ocean to Portland/Vancouver, the Port of Portland has evolved to become an economic engine for the region with a mission of enhancing the region's economy and quality of life by providing efficient cargo and air passenger access to national and global markets. Today, the Port operates four airports including Portland International Airport, four marine terminals, and is the largest developer of industrial and business parks in the Portland metropolitan area.

With modern bulk, container, break-bulk, and auto-handling terminals at the nexus of the Columbia River barge and rail corridors and the I-5 and I-84 highway corridors, the Port serves as one of the West Coast’s busiest maritime load centers. The Port of Portland has been recently working with two major shipping carriers, ZIM American Integrated Shipping Services and Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp. to provide expanded container shipping services to this market.

The Port’s four marine terminals total nearly 1,000 acres of waterfront industrial property. Hundreds of businesses in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and other states depend on these terminals to move compressed hay, clothing, footwear, electronics, tires, automobiles, and grain and mineral bulks each year. Terminal 6 is the Columbia River’s only deep draft container terminal and offers intermodal containerized freight shipments to Asia and Europe. T-6 infrastructure is designed to accommodate the efficient movement of containers between trucks, trains, ships, and barges.

The Port of Portland is the highest volume mineral bulk port on the U.S. West Coast, the highest volume wheat export port in the U.S., and the highest volume auto-handling port on the West Coast. More than 11.5 million tons of cargo moved through Port of Portland marine terminals in 2005.

This "Congressional Corner" column shares the perspective of Northwest Members of Congress -- in their own words -- on Columbia River issues. This month, we feature U.S. Congressman Greg Walden:

"From recreation and beauty to trade and commerce, the Columbia River Channel is a critical part of life in the Northwest.

"An effective maritime transportation infrastructure is vital to commerce in our region. Thousands of jobs throughout the Pacific Northwest, including Oregon's Second Congressional District, rely on the Columbia River system and its related activity. Responsible and forward-thinking management of the channel is critical to job creation and economic activity for so many communities and businesses.

"Farmers throughout the region export a tremendous amount of agricultural products, such as wheat and produce, to Asia. Deepening the channel maintains a competitive advantage for farmers when it comes to transportation costs and their ability to hold vital market share.

"The Columbia River system is also the source of low- cost and renewable hydropower. Taking advantage of the natural energy created from the River helps keep power affordable for families and businesses throughout the Northwest, and utilizing renewable energy sources is more important today than ever before."

Hanjin Shipping broke its volume record in Portland in 2005 with 60,832 container moves, a 46 percent increase from its 2004 volume of 41,783 moves. Hanjin phased in 5,500 and 5,700 TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit) ships, the largest container ships ever to call on Portland, early in 2005 to provide additional capacity for the region's businesses and farms to ship their cargo.

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.