PNWA supports stimulus package funding for infrastructure, including navigation

PNWA has joined with numerous organizations around the country and here in the region to request that Congress and the Administration consider the needs of our crumbling infrastructure as they continue to discuss another stimulus package.  Many groups are weighing in with regard to highway and rail needs.  PNWA is taking this opportunity to highlight Northwest navigation infrastructure that is critical to the national economy.
                 
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Northwestern Division has created an updated snapshot of their FY2009 capabilities for projects in the Pacific Northwest.  These capabilities are a reflection of what the Corps could accomplish in the region if the agency were fully funded.  Some projects have the same capability level that was reflected by the Corps earlier this year in response to the Administration's FY2009 budget.  Most projects in the updated snapshot have increased capabilities, some dramatically so.
 
Tomorrow, PNWA will be sending a letter to the Northwest Congressional delegation, expressing our support for full funding of all PNWA-member navigation projects in the Northwest.  This region's economy is highly dependent on international trade, and these navigation projects will not only stimulate the economy, they will be good for the environment.  Navigation is the most fuel efficient and least polluting mode for moving cargo.  PNWA members can view Glenn Vanselow's op-ed supporting stimulus funding for navigation infrastructure below.  The article, titled Just Add Water, was featured in the Oregonian on November 13th.
 
There are particular projects in the region that deserve special mention.  The Columbia River Channel Improvement Project (channel deepening) has been slated for $36M in the FY2009 budget and draft House and Senate appropriations bills.  However, adding the final project increment of $25M, for a total of $61M, would allow the Portland District to move forward toward completion of this project, including rock removal as early as November 2009.
 
The Lower Monumental (LoMo) major rehab has been delayed due to funding issues with the national Inland Waterways Trust Fund.  This project is expected to cost $27.5M in total, and will provide for the construction and placement of a new downstream lock gate.  This project should not be delayed any further, as a gate failure at LoMo would create a bottleneck affecting the entire Columbia Snake River System and could have serious Endangered Species Act impacts for salmon.  PNWA advocates for full funding of $27.5M immediately.
 
The Elliott Bay Seawall study was zeroed out in the Administration's FY2009 budget, and was not fully funded in the House or Senate draft bills earlier this year.  PNWA advocates for funding in the amount of $1M to move this important project forward.  Given the implications for not only trade but also human safety should the seawall experience a failure, it is important that its weaknesses be addressed immediately.
 
Coastal ports have weathered extremely harsh winter storms in the past few years, and the jetty systems that were already deteriorating have either failed or are approaching failure.  It is time to reinvest in the structures that are so important to protecting the mariners who contribute so much to the economies of these coastal communities.  It is also critical to address the shoaling that has occurred as a result of these storms and deferred maintenance.  A few ports have already received help earlier this year, in particular, Coos Bay and Chinook.  More help is needed.  PNWA is advocating for $9.9M at Coos Bay, $1.9M at Yaquina Bay & Harbor (Newport), $5.6M at Humboldt Bay (California), $12.3M at Tillamook Bay (Garibaldi), $632K at Yaquina River (Toledo), $2.6M at Siuslaw, $1.4M at Umpqua, $1M at Swinomish Channel (Skagit Co.), and $849K at Columbia River at Baker Bay (Ilwaco).
 
PNWA encourages Congress and the Administration to consider an economic stimulus package that includes robust funding for transportation infrastructure, including navigation.
 
Contact: Kristin Meira