Herrera Beutler heralds Columbia, Cowlitz River funding from Congress

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U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler has secured more than $1.2 million in funding for two projects within the Columbia and Cowlitz river systems, a news release from her office stated Wednesday, July 21.

The funding for both infrastructure projects has been approved in the U.S. House Appropriations Committee spending plan, according to the release.

Of the funding, $918,000 will go toward sediment monitoring of the lower Cowlitz River. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be able to operate and conduct maintenance on the river, and collect information on water levels and an earthen dam along the river to see its ability to protect against flooding, the release stated.



“Cowlitz County communities know the great risk that flooding poses to their families, homes, and businesses. The federal government has a responsibility to help mitigate the risk of flooding caused by the buildup of sediment in the Lower Cowlitz River and I’m making sure it lives up to that commitment,” said Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, in the release.

The other $200,000 of the funding will go toward a feasibility study on a turning basin near Kalama and improvement of an existing one near Longview, the release stated. The work is intended to increase cargo volume, spurring economic development in the region.

“The Columbia River supports many jobs in our region and throughout the west, which underscores the need to make sure we can continue efficiently shipping goods up and down that waterway,” Herrera Beutler said in the news release.