Washington DC – Today, U.S. Senator Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, applauded Senate passage of the bipartisan and bicameral Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024, biennial legislation that authorizes U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects and programs and provides key resources to ports and waterways throughout the country, including in Washington state. Senator Murray voted for the bill, which passed the Senate in an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 97-1. The legislation passed the House 399-18 last week and now heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.
“Washington state’s abundant water resources—from our rivers to our ports—are major drivers of economic activity and an essential part of what makes our state such a special place to live,” dijo el senador Murray. “I worked hard to make sure Washington state’s priorities would be reflected throughout the Water Resources Development Act of 2024, and am proud we were able to secure key provisions that pave the way for important water infrastructure and economic development projects—from flood storage and pile dike maintenance along the Columbia River, to harbor deepening at the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma, to erosion control at Ediz Hook beach in Port Angeles, and much more. This legislation is a clear win for Washington state, providing critical federal resources for our state’s waterway infrastructure and our environment to continue to thrive.”
Senator Murray secured in the legislation the following wins for Washington state:
En todo el estado
Columbia River Treaty Interim Pre-Planned Flood Storage Authorization: After six years of negotiations between the United States and Canada, President Biden announced an agreement in principle on the modernization of the CRT on July 11, 2024. This language authorizes the Corps to move forward with interim pre-planned flood storage along the Columbia River with Canada while the full agreement is finalized. Earlier this year, Senator Murray secured the first year of funding for these purposes in the Continuing Resolution. This provision solidifies the ability for the Corps to budget for this critical funding in the future.
Coastal Washington Flooding Study: Authorizes the Corps to conduct a comprehensive study of river and coastal flooding. The study will include evaluating risk reduction measures, projecting sea level rise, identifying coastal vulnerabilities including impacts on Tribal and economically disadvantaged communities, and recommending actions to protect critical infrastructure, communities, and other resources.
Suroeste de Washington:
Maintaining the Columbia River as a Critical Navigation Channel: There is a lack of dredged material disposal sites along the Columbia River, a critical navigation channel and export gateway that helps power the Pacific Northwest and the national economy. Senator Murray supported the inclusion of language in WRDA 2024 to assess the costs and limitations of dredged material disposal sites. Senator Murray also secured language that would give the Corps the authority to ensure a 100% federal cost-share for aquatic structures, creating parity with other dredged material sites, to store dredged material rather than leaving local ports responsible for the cost. Finally, Senator Murray secured language to ensure the Corps is maintaining the pile dike system along the Lower Columbia River at federal expense including pile dikes that have disconnected from eroded shorelines.
Expanding Dredging Across the Mount Saint Helens Sediment Control Project: Senator Murray secured language
authorizing the Corps to dredge the Cowlitz River when the buildup of sediment from Mount Saint Helens impacts the ability of vessels to navigate the river system. Formerly, the Corps was not authorized to dredge for navigation purposes.
Supporting the Port of Skamania’s Economic Development: Most land in Skamania County is under Federal, state, and trust ownership. Senator Murray secured language in WRDA allowing the Port of Skamania to purchase land from the federal government at fair market value for economic development purposes.
Flood Risk Study in Wahkiakum County: Wahkiakum County’s proximity to the Columbia River and its tributaries makes it particularly vulnerable to river flooding, especially during heavy rainfall and snowmelt—the Coast Guard had to rescue five people last year because of flooding in Grays River. Flooding affects Wahkiakum’s County’s agriculture, fishing, and tourism sectors, hindering the economically disadvantaged community’s growth and reducing its overall resilience to future climate-related events. This year’s WRDA authorizes a new study Senator Murray requested to identify flood risks along Grays River and Deep River, and their confluences with the Columbia River at Grays Bay. Wahkiakum County is interested in a multipurpose study to examine ways to reduce the flooding while addressing navigation and ecosystem restoration.
Study of Ecosystem Restoration Along Tributaries of the Columbia River:Authorizes a new study for ecosystem restoration on the Washington side of the Columbia River along the Wind, Klickitat, Hood, Deschutes, Rock Creek, and John Day tributary rivers. This will allow the Corps to partner with Tribes on aquatic ecosystem restoration projects from Bonneville to the McNary Dam.
“This legislation includes important provisions I fought for to ensure we continue properly investing in and maintaining the Columbia River as a key channel for navigation and commerce in the Pacific Northwest, that also supports thousands of jobs in Southwest Washington and throughout the region,” dijo el senador Murray. “This bill authorizes—and will ensure the federal government helps pay for—critical dredging projects to support our ports and navigation channels, as well as supporting ecosystem restoration and flood risk management throughout the region.”
Península Olímpica:
Ediz Hook Maintenance and Repair: Every 20-30 years, the Ediz Hook sand spit needs rock revetment and beach nourishment. If Ediz Hook is damaged, it risks blocking access the only road that accesses an essential Coast Guard site, cutting off their ability to access a station that includes air rescue equipment and vehicles. The provision requires the Corps to cover the full cost to maintain and repair Ediz Hook, creating parity with other similar operation and maintenance projects in the state.
Puget Sound & Northwest WA:
Port of Seattle East Waterway Deepening Project: The bill includes language secured by Senator Murray directing the Corps to expedite completion of the East Waterway Deepening Project. This project is critical to improving access and expanding cargo capacity by allowing larger ships to access the port.
Port of Seattle Water Deauthorization: The Port of Seattle plans to restore vital fish and wildlife habitat at the current site of Terminal 25 South. The project will restore estuarine wetland functions and establish new habitat for salmon and other fish. The bill includes a provision secured by Senator Murray that deauthorizes waters adjacent to the terminal to allow for this restoration work to move forward.
Supports the Corps and Pierce County’s Jones Levee Flood Control Feasibility Study: The Corps has been studying flood control at the Jones Levee in Pierce County for many years. As project cost estimates have risen, the project no longer fits within the scope of the current Corps program authorization. Senator Murray included a provision to enable the project to move forward by requiring the Corps to realize efficiencies by combining all previous work into a new authorization for the project.
“I worked hard to make sure the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma would notch important wins in this year’s Water Resources Development Act—the final legislation will help pay for critical deepening projects that enable our Northwest Ports to stay competitive and grow our economy. The provisions we fought for in this legislation will also help address flood risks, conduct important water resource-related research, and extend critical water infrastructure in Northwest Washington, among much else,” dijo el senador Murray.
Senator Murray has championed Washington state’s ports and water infrastructure throughout her career and has always played a key role in helping negotiate each reauthorization of WRDA, securing major wins for Washington state like her landmark reforms of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF). Following WRDA’s authorization of key projects, Senator Murray always works to follow up on delivering the actual funding in the yearly spending bills she writes and negotiates. Senator Murray is working to secure hundreds of millones for Washington state ports and other critical water infrastructure needs in the draft fiscal year 2025 appropriations bills she authored as Chair of the Appropriations Committee. Senator Murray is currently negotiating fiscal year 2025 spending bills. In addition to serving as Chair of the full Senate Appropriations Committee, she serves as Chair of the Energy and Water Development subcommittee which determines funding for nearly all of the projects that are authorized by WRDA. Senator Murray discussed many of her water infrastructure priorities with Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Michael L. Connor at a Senate Appropriations Energy and Water Development subcommittee hearing she chaired this summer.
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