The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has issued an environmental approval for a proposed 1,000-foot-wide deep-water ship turnaround near the Port of Kalama, advancing a project that also includes expansion of Longview’s existing turning basin. According to reporting by DredgeWire, the approval was granted last month and follows the Corps’ broader efforts to improve navigation efficiency and safety along the lower Columbia River.

The project would involve dredging on a scale designed to accommodate larger, deeper-drafting vessels that regularly transit the Columbia River system. While the Corps’ environmental review acknowledged potential impacts, the agency ultimately moved the project forward with environmental approval, as noted in the DredgeWire summary of the decision.

Recent Corps documentation shows that navigation inefficiencies in the stretch of river between Longview and Kalama have been the focus of multiple studies, including the Draft Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Assessment released in 2024. Public feedback processes tied to these studies highlighted concerns about vessel congestion, safety during bar closures, and the limited number of existing turning basins available for large ships.

The new turnaround near Kalama and the expansion of the Longview turning basin are intended to reduce delays, limit upstream or downstream detours, and decrease tug and pilot time. These improvements are particularly relevant for Southwest Washington’s working river communities, where marine commerce plays a central role in local employment and industrial activity.

The Ports of Longview and Kalama have each supported increased investment in turning infrastructure, pointing to rising cargo volumes and the growing prevalence of larger commercial vessels on the Columbia River. The newly approved dredging project represents a significant step toward addressing longtime navigation constraints in Cowlitz County’s river corridor.