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$15M for Channel Deepening Proposed by Staff Portland Business Journal, February 6, 2006

President Bush's proposed $2.77 trillion 2007 budget includes $15 million for the Columbia River Channel Improvement project.

The money "is a good start for the 2007 federal budget process," said Ken O'Hollaren, president of the Columbia River Channel Coalition and executive director of the Port of Longview. "We look forward to working closely with the Northwest Congressional delegation to increase this amount to ensure that the Columbia River navigation channel is deepened as quickly as possible."

The Columbia River Channel Coalition is requesting a final fiscal year 2007 channel project appropriation of $40 million.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed deepening more than 25 percent (27 miles) of the 103-mile navigation channel between the ocean and Portland/Vancouver in 2005. Federal and state funds have already been appropriated for 2006, which will allow the corps to deepen another major section of the river from 40 feet to 43 feet this year.

Washington and Oregon have appropriated a combined $55.4 million for the project, representing the full state matching funds. Congress has already appropriated $34 million and approximately $65 million more in federal funds must still be appropriated to complete the project.