$440,000 for Kenmore Navigation Channel in Army Corps of Engineers 2014 Work Plan

On Tuesday, March 4, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released its Work Plan for Fiscal Year 2014 and it includes good news for Kenmore. The Corps’ Work Plan includes $440,000 to take key steps, including important environmental assessments that are required to prepare for maintenance dredging of the Kenmore Navigation Kenmore Navigation Channel. The Corps developed the Work Plan following passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014 (HR 3547), the budget agreement approved by Congress and signed by President Barack Obama in January.

The Kenmore Navigation Channel is a critical conduit for commerce and the regional economy and is in need of maintenance dredging, as barging operations serving CalPortland’s concrete plant, Kenmore Air’s commercial seaplane operations, and other water-dependent businesses are being affected by the diminished lake depth. The most recent maintenance dredging by the Corps of Engineers was in 1997. Maintenance dredging is at least six years overdue.

The City of Kenmore has been working for several years to bring attention to the need for maintenance dredging of the navigation channel. U.S. Senator Patty Murray, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell and U.S. Representative Suzan DelBene urged the Administration and US Army Corps of Engineers to support this proposal. The budget legislation for FY 2014 included $40 million in the Corps budget to be directed to small harbors and ports, which typically have difficulty competing with large port facilities for maintenance funding, but are often instrumental for local economies and public safety.

“This is wonderful news,” said Kenmore Mayor David Baker. “This is an essential step toward maintenance dredging of the navigation channel and we greatly appreciate the leadership and support of Representative DelBene, Senator Murray and Senator Cantwell in advocating for funding to maintain this Corps of Engineers facility. We also value the role that King County officials, particularly Councilmember Rod Dembowski, have played in making the case for this project.” Baker continued, “We have developed a good dialogue with the Army Corps of Engineers and look forward to working with the Seattle District as they proceed with this work.”