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Columbia River Channel project receives new wave of federal funds 02/18/03 Daily Shipping News PORTLAND — The Columbia River Channel Improvement project has received $2 million in the omnibus appropriations bill for the current fiscal year (FY2003), which was approved by the U.S. Congress last week. This is the second wave of federal funds for the project, which received an initial $4.5 million allocation in FY2001. The six Oregon and Washington port sponsors of the project credited congressional members from Oregon, Washington, and Idaho for their support of the channel improvement, which along with several other projects will preserve and enhance navigation on the Columbia/Snake River system. The Oregon and Washington ports also applauded other items funded by Congress, including: Maintenance dredging on the Columbia main stem -- $16.3 million; Maintenance dredging at the Mouth of the Columbia, including the Benson Beach demonstration project -- $9.2 million; Restoration of funds for maintenance dredging at all the coastal Oregon ports; Operation and repair of the John Day Lock and Dam to ensure continued passage of products barged from upper Columbia and Snake River ports -- $4.4 million; and Lower Columbia River ecosystem restoration -- $2 million. With federal environmental approvals now granted, the States of Oregon and Washington are reviewing the project’s water quality permits and coastal zone management act compliance. If those are approved, the Corps then considers a Record of Decision for the project to proceed. Based on the amount received for FY2003, the ports will be working with the Corps to establish a request for 2004.
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