The event took place at the North Tillamook Jetty project, which is expected to be completed in September of this year.  Approximately 900 large stones totalling 37,000 tons will be placed on the jetty to maintain reliability of the 18' deep navigation channel and provide protection for commercial fishing fleets and recreational boaters.  Additional critical infrastructure needs up and down the coast were also recognized as being vital components to the economic survival of coastal communities in the Northwest.
 
PNWA is the lead advocate for navigation infrastructure on the Oregon coast and throughout the region.  We continue to work with the Northwest delegation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to advocate for the highest level of funding for infrastructure maintenance and repairs throughout the Northwest.  For more information on these coastal communities, view our fact sheets "Oregon and SW Washington Shallow Draft Ports" and "Oregon Coastal Ports Create Jobs".  To view KGW news coverage of the event, please click here.  

USCG Sector Columbia River is activated in ceremony in Astoria
 
PNWA staff attended an August 23rd ceremony to commemorate the merging of Portland and Astoria U.S. Coast Guard Commands to become Sector Columbia River, located in Astoria, OR.  The consolidation will reduce the number of full-time command centers from two to one, will establish a separate Marine Safety Unit in Portland, OR, and is meant to increase overall efficiency and service delivery for the maritime community.    
 
CAPT Douglas Kaup, Commander, Sector Columbia River, will be based in Astoria, but will work frequently in Portland. He will oversee the Harbor Safety and Area Maritime Security Committees and focus on meeting the needs of industry and government partners. CAPT Daniel LeBlanc, Commanding Officer of the Marine Safety Unit, will be based in Portland and will oversee Sector Columbia River Prevention Missions.  The new Sector Columbia River Command Center can be reached at (503) 861-6211/6212.   
 
PNWA appreciates the work of USCG Sector Columbia River to make this a smooth transition for maritime stakeholders. We look forward to a continued partnership with the USCG during this transition and into the future. 

New details released for PNWA Annual Meeting in Spokane
 
PNWA's Annual Meeting, October 13-15 at The Davenport Hotel in Spokane, WA is scheduled to be an outstanding event.  Our packed agenda features stand-out speakers and will provide the perfect platform to continue our dialogue on how we can position the Northwest as a leader in our nation's future.  Log on to our website for more information or to register today!
 
Additional meeting announced - PNWA work group on National Ocean Policy
PNWA has scheduled an additional meeting to take place during the 2010 Annual Meeting on Tuesday, October 14th at 4:15pm.  We will be convening a work group to discuss the Administration's recently adopted National Ocean Policy, the eventual roll-out of coastal marine spatial planning (CMSP), and the potential effects on maritime activities in the Northwest.  All PNWA members are encouraged to participate, as we begin to track this emerging policy area.       
 
Highlighted Speaker - U.S. Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers, U.S. House of Representatives
Rep. McMorris Rodgers was elected to the U.S. Congress in 2004 and is currently serving her third term representing Washington's Fifth Congressional District.  In addition to supporting policies to give wider opportunities to families and small businesses in Eastern Washington, Rep. McMorris Rodgers also serves on the House Natural Resources Committee.  This committee has jurisdiction over the Bonneville Power Administration, Bureau of Reclamation irrigation projects (Columbia Basin Project and Yakima Project), endangered species recovery, and federal hydropower projects.  On this committee, she has served as a great advocate for dams on the Columbia Snake River System and the hydropower benefits they produce.  She has also been an outspoken supporter of the 2008 FCRPS Biological Opinion.  PNWA is very appreciative of the Congresswoman's continued support and looks forward to welcoming her at our meeting in October.  
 
Additional Featured Speakers:
Rep. Eric Anderson, Idaho State House of Representatives
Dennis McLerran, Regional Administrator, EPA Region 10 (invited)
Greg Guthrie, Director, Marketing Development Agricultural Products, BNSF Railway
Kris Mikkelson, CEO, Inland Power & Light
MaryLou Soscia, Columbia River Coordinator, EPA Region 10
Debrah Marriot, Executive Director, Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership
Matt Cutts, Project Manager, USACE, Portland District                    
Hal Thomas, Business Line Manager, Operations Division, USACE, Walla Walla District
Steve Wirsching, Executive Director, U.S. Wheat Associates
Eric Anderson, WDFW Enforcement, Aquatic Invasive Species Unit
 
Featured Topics:
U.S. National Export Initiative
CSRS Extended Lock Closure: Update from the Corps
Northwest Rail Update
Grain Developments: Sustainable Agriculture and Transportation Challenges
Protecting the Northwest from Invasive Species
Marketing U.S. Wheat Overseas
Regional Power Issues
Columbia River Restoration Act (CRRA)
Columbia Basin Project
Hood River Delta Project
And much more!
 
For additional information, log on to our website at www.pnwa.net.  Online registration is available at http://pnwa.net/new/2010_annual_registration.aspx.  We look forward to seeing you in Spokane!