Why is the Corps proposing dredging?
A. Historically, the Corps has routinely performed maintenance on the Federal navigation channel by dredging accumulated sediments from the channel and other facilities for purposes of operational efficiency. Because Congress authorized a channel 14 feet deep and 250 feet wide, the navigation infrastructure in the region has been developed to these dimensions. A number of hazardous conditions have arisen within the channel that constitute safety concerns and risks to life, negative impacts to the regional economy as a result of current operational constraints, and a gradual increase in the risk of overtopping the Lewiston Levee system. The proposed dredging activities will remove sediment accumulations within the Federal navigation system where depths are less than the authorized depth, and will contribute to the maintenance of flow capacity in the Lewiston-Clarkston area. Q.
