Snake River Dredging Happening Now

It was a long time coming but earlier this week, the U.S. Corp of Engineers began dredging on the Snake River following the January 5th federal court ruling in favor of the federal government. Pacific Northwest Waterways Association Executive Director Kristin Meria says this is an exciting win-win project for the region.
Meria: “This has been a very long time coming. The last dredging that has taken place on the Lower Snake River was in the winter of 2005 into 2006. So we are just ecstatic that the Corp of Engineers and their contractors and finally get out there and restore this safe navigation channel.
The Columbia Snake River System is a significant national waterway and is the top wheat export gateway in the nation, and second for soy. Meria continues
Meria: “Navigation channels around the country and around the world are pretty similar — they function well but occasionally you do get some sand that accumulates in the channel. And the sand needs to be scooped out so that the barges have adequate room to move through without hitting the bottom. The Snake River is the same as anywhere else, and it has some sand that has accumulated and it needs to be scooped out and that is what the Corp of Engineers will get to work and do.”
The inland system moves over 9 million tons of cargo annually that feed the Lower Columbia River export gateway.