Oregon and Washington governors believe deepening the Columbia River
channel is justified economically, but say the environmental impacts of
the dredging operation must be addressed before the project begins.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released its final recommendation in
August 1999 to deepen the lower 105 miles of the Columbia River channel
from 40 feet to 43 feet to aid shipping in the region. According to the
Corps, a deeper channel will accommodate deeper draft ships and …
