BELLINGHAM—Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, today announced that plans to dredge the Squalicum Waterway in Bellingham will move forward after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers included $436,000 for the first phase of the project in its FY16 work plan. Larsen has championed the project through meetings with the Port of Bellingham to develop community support, as well as pressing the Corps to invest in the dredging project that is critical to the Northwest Washington economy.

The Corps is funding the sediment characterization portion of the project, which is required before carrying out the larger maintenance dredging project. 

“The Squalicum Waterway enables commerce to flow in Northwest Washington, supporting about 2,000 jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. I am pleased the Corps recognizes that maintaining this waterway is critical to the Pacific Northwest economy,” Larsen said.

“The Army Corps’ commitment to maintaining the Squalicum Waterway is great news for jobs and the economy in Whatcom County and the greater region, because our working waterfront businesses depend on the waterway to sell their goods both domestically and internationally. The Port is grateful to Congressman Larsen for his help in securing funding for the first phase of maintenance for the Squalicum Waterway,” said Port of Bellingham Executive Director Rob Fix.

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