Washington, D.C. – Today, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Ranking Member Peter DeFazio (D-OR) announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) will allocate an additional $34.5 million in Fiscal Year 2019 to critical maintenance and safety projects at ports along the Oregon coast.
“Oregon’s ports are the lifeblood of coastal economies and rely on federal funding to maintain navigation channels and to ensure the safety of those channels for commercial fishing and recreation,” said DeFazio. “This additional funding will help ensure Oregon’s ports stay open for business and help support coastal communities.”
The funding will support necessary operations and maintenance projects at Ports across Oregon’s coast including dredging harbors, bays, and river channels. Furthermore, the projects will improve access for search and rescue crews stationed at multiple coastal ports.
With this additional funding, the Corps will be able to dredge River Mile 12-15 of the Coos Bay River, restoring direct ocean access to multiple port customers. This part of the river has not been maintained since 2010 and needs dredging to support the growing economic activity at the Port of Coos Bay.
In addition, $954,000 will be added to dredge the Winchester Bay boat basin entrance of the Umpqua River to allow better access to the U.S. Coast Guard search and rescue crew stationed in Reedsport.
Ranking Member DeFazio organized a letter to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works in October in support of additional funding for Oregon’s ports. The letter was signed by Senators Wyden and Merkley, as well as Representatives Blumenauer, Schrader and Bonamici.
A list of additional funding allocated to ports in Oregon’s fourth congressional district is below:
Chetco River - $45,000
Coos Bay - $9,727,000
Coquille River (Bandon) – $411,000
Rogue River (Gold Beach) $963,000
Siuslaw River $1,098,000
Umpqua River (Reedsport/Salmon Harbor) - $954,000
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