The Port of Portland has just announced that the Columbia River navigation channel dredge season 2017 is now officially underway.
According to the port, the cutter suction dredge Oregon yesterday started the maintenance dredging operations on the river.
“ The project will help maintain the shipping channel on the lower Columbia River, ensuring the river can support the movement of goods – everything from autos to wheat ,” reported the port.
The port carries out annual maintenance dredging of the shipping channel, from Portland 100 miles to the sea, in order to maintain the channel’s authorized width and depth at 600 feet by 43 feet.
Last year, the crew of Oregon removed over 2 million cubic yards of material from the channel to help ensure navigation safety.