Dredging of the lower Columbia and Cowlitz rivers to continue

Advanced maintenance dredging at the confluence of the lower Columbia and Cowlitz rivers to reduce risk to users by providing reliable passage of commercial and recreational traffic can proceed following a finding of no significant impact to the environment.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District recently developed the Final Environmental Assessment (EA) for Lower Columbia River Navigation Channel Advance Maintenance Dredging at Cowlitz River which addresses the project purpose to facilitate navigation by removing shoals that restrict the movement of vessels. The project is located near river mile 68 in Cowlitz County, Washington.

USACE currently conducts advance maintenance dredging in this location as part of the Lower Columbia River Federal Navigation Channel (LCR FNC) maintenance.

With the Finding of No Significant Impacts (FONSI) released, USACE can now continue to maintain the navigation channel by dredging the sediment after it migrates from the Cowlitz River into the Columbia River and forms a shoal in the LCR FNC.

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