Big funding announced for Oregon dredging projects

Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden have once again used the Senate appropriations process to help Oregonians complete projects and support their communities, creating jobs and better access to essential services.

The victories for Oregon are in the Energy and Water portion of Congress’s omnibus spending bill, which is expected to pass both chambers of Congress and be signed into law by President Biden this week.

“This bill includes many bipartisan investments in things like renewable energy and energy storage—which Oregonians need to build a foundation for long-term prosperity—as well as support for other projects that will have positive impacts in the near future, like dredging our small ports, restoring dams and canal locks, and crucial drought relief funding,” said Jeff Merkley.

One of the key elements of the legislation that will impact Oregon is Small Ports and Army Corps Navigation program.

The program, which is vital source of funding to help Oregon ports pay for dredging and other necessary infrastructure projects, received over $344 million for deep-draft harbor and channel improvements, $34.5 million for inland waterways, $20 million for navigation maintenance, and $45 million for small ports, which supports the small ports that are the lifeblood of Oregon’s coastal economy.