1989
Project initiated – sponsored by Columbia River ports (Portland and St. Helens in Oregon and Kalama, Longview, Vancouver and Woodland in Washington
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1990
Project Reconnaissance Study completed
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1994 – August 1999
Project Feasibility Study started.
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August 1999
Congress authorizes project, contingent upon Corps of Engineers’ "Chief’s Report".
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December 1999
Corps of Engineers (Corps) issues positive “Chief’s Report”.
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December 1999
Congress appropriates initial $4.5 million construction funds.
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December 2000
Congress appropriates initial $4.5 million construction funds.
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August 2000
NOAA withdraws original Biological Opinion based on new information.
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March – October 2001
Re-consultation workshops conducted by Sustainable Ecosystem Institute (involving seven scientist from around the country and the public).
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May 2001
Washington legislature appropriates $10 million toward $27.7 million Washington share of construction costs.
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July 2001
Oregon Legislature commits to $27.7 million in Lottery Bonds.
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January 2002
Corps transmits a favorable Biological Assessment to NOAA and USFWS for consideration of new Biological Opinion (BO).
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May 2002
NOAA and USFWS issue their second “no jeopardy” BOs.
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June 2002
Washington Legislature appropriates $17.7 million of Washington’s matching funds.
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July 2002
Corps issues Draft Supplemental Integrated Feasibility Report, Environmental Impact Statement, and updated benefit/cost analysis (SEIS).
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July-September 2002
Corps takes comments on SEIS.
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August 2002
Corps hosts Economic Technical Review Panel to review the Corps’ updated benefit/cost analysis.
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September 2002
Corps hosts public hearings to take public testimony regarding SEIS.
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January 2003
The states of Oregon and Washington hold public hearings on 401 Water Quality Certification and Coastal Zone Consistency (401/CZM) Permits. Corps issues the Final Supplemental EIS.
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May 2002
The states of Oregon and Washington hold second public hearings on state environmental permits in order to open the record and accept the Corps’ Final Supplemental EIS for review.
Washington state re-appropriates funding for project for 2003-05 biennium.
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June 2003
States of Oregon and Washington issue 401/CZM permits.
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November 2003
State litigation was resolved.
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January 2004
Corps issued the final Record of Decision. Congress approved omnibus bill to integrate two new ecosystem restoration features into the original WRDA 1999 authorization for Channel Deepening. President’s FY 2005 budget request contains a placeholder for federal Channel Deepening funds. Congressional construction appropriations sought by sponsors ($15 million).
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April 2004
Federal lawsuit filed challenging NOAA and USFWS’ Biological Opinions for Channel Deepening.
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June 2004
Corps and sponsoring ports execute the Project Cooperation Agreement.
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July 2004
White House of Office of Management and Budget complete a favorable review of the project.
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August 2004
Oregon sells Lottery Bonds and provides sponsoring ports with $27.7 million. President Bush visits Portland to announce his commitment to amend the budget for FY 2005 to include $15 million for Channel Deepening.
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September 2004
President’s budget amended to include $15 million. Ecosystem restoration construction is completed at Lord-Walker Island.
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November 2004
Congress appropriates $9 million for FY 2005. To date, Congressional appropriations total $19 million. Coalition requests $40 million for FY 2006.
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February 2005
$15 million was included in the President’s budget proposal for FY 2006. The Coalition is still requesting $40 million for FY 2006 and $40 million for FY 2007.
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May 2005
Corps awarded the first Channel Deepening contract to Great Lakes Dredge & Docks for work to begin on June 1st (for more details see “Current Project Status”).
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June 2005
Federal litigation was successfully resolved with a favorable ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Martinez on June 15th. Deepening of the Columbia River navigation channel from 40-43 feet began on June 25th.
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August 2005
Plaintiffs in the federal lawsuit appealed the decision to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on August 11th. The Coalition is confident that the litigation will successfully be resolved in Spring 2006.
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December 2005
The Corps’ contractor “Great Lakes Dredge & Dock” completed the first phase of deepening 25% of the 103.5 mile navigation channel from 40 to 43 feet, using their dredge “Sugar Island”. Dredging in the upper river involved the Port of Portland’s pipeline dredge “Oregon” working in tandem with the Sugar Island in what is known as “re-handle”.
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February 2006
President Bush included $15 million for Channel Deepening in his proposed budget for FY 2007. The dredge Oregon completed deepening the first mile of the Oregon Slough at River Mile 102.
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Spring 2006
Corps will open the contract bid for the second phase of Channel Deepening.
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