1 of 39

America’s Inland Waterways: Progress, Delays, and What’s Ahead Under a New Administration

Jennifer Armstrong – Vice President of Government Relations, Waterways Council

Paul Dittman – President, Gulf Intracoastal Canal Association

Scott Harshman – Marketing & Program Manager, Port of Pittsburgh Commision

Neil Maunu – Executive Director, PNWA

Ken Hocke – Senior Editor, WorkBoat

2 of 39

3 of 39

4 of 39

Circa 1951

Bayou Sorrel Lock

56 feet wide by 797 feet long

5 of 39

Circa 1923

6 of 39

Brazos River Flood Gates

75 feet wide

Circa 1940

7 of 39

Inland Waterways Transportation System

December 3, 2025

Jen Armstrong

VP, Government Relations

8 of 39

Inland Waterways System

12,000 Miles of Navigable Waterways
239 Locks at 193 Sites
Current Avg. Age of Lock is 59.3 years old

9 of 39

10 of 39

10

11 of 39

11

12 of 39

Active Construction/Design Projects Locations

12

13 of 39

WRDA Process

Finalize WCI WRDA Requests

Senate member requests due to the Environment & Public Works (EPW) Committee

House member requests due to Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Committee

House T&I and Senate EPW Committee Markups

JAN-FEB 2026

MAY 2025

JAN-FEB 2026

MAR-APR 2026

14 of 39

Thank You

15 of 39

Pacific Northwest Waterways Association

Neil Maunu

16 of 39

Pacific Northwest Waterways Association�

Non-profit trade association that advocates for federal policies & funding in support of regional economic development

Over 150 members in WA, OR, and ID:

Public ports
Agriculture & forest products producers
Utilities
Towboaters & steamship operators
Pilots
Union labor
Terminal Operators & Grain Elevators

17 of 39

PNWA�Federal Partnerships

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Portland, Walla Walla, Seattle Districts
Northwestern Division
Headquarters in DC
Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) – Pentagon

Congress

Northwest House & Senate Delegations (District & DC)
House & Senate Energy & Water Appropriations Subcommittees
House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee (T&I)
Senate Environment & Public Works Committee (EPW)

White House

Office of Management & Budget (OMB)
Council on Environmental Quality

18 of 39

PNWA Areas of Engagement

Inland Navigation

Small Ports

Deep Draft Navigation

PNWA – A “Microcosm” of National Waterway Infrastructure

Our region has it all! Coastal ports; large and small, Inland Ports and private terminals, marinas, a variety of commodities…
Value-add for Congressional Staff and Members

Infrastructure Maintenance and Rehabilitation - #1 Priority

19 of 39

�Navigation on the River�A Marine Highway M-84��

Deep Draft Portion

Astoria to Portland, OR
110 miles long
43 ft. deep
49.7 M tons of cargo in 2022
$31.2 B worth of cargo in 2022

Inland System

Portland, OR to Lewiston, ID
365 miles long
14 ft. deep
8 lock & dams
8.5 million tons of cargo

20 of 39

Columbia River Treaty (CRT) & River Navigation

20

21 of 39

Threat to Navigation on Lower Snake River Dams

2020: Columbia River System EIS
2022-2023: Mediation and 2022 Change in the “goalposts.”
2024: Stay in Litigation
2025: June 12^th Presidential Memo
2026: March, expected Ruiling
Ongoing Litigation

21

22 of 39

Presidential Action �

June 12^th Presidential Memorandum

Revokes Biden Administration Memorandum

Withdraws US Government from MOU and commitments

Rescinds the Notice of Intent for Supplemental EIS on CRSO

Directs Agencies to reissue Notice of Intent

22

23 of 39

WRDA 2026�PNW and Beyond

Lower Columbia River Turning Basin from feasibility study phase to project authorization phase
Snake River Channel clarification for routine dredging going forward
Extension of Columbia River Treaty interim 3-year agreement
Lower Columbia Dredge Material Management Plan (DMMP)

24 of 39

Columbia River Maintenance Dredging

Channel Maintenance Plan – ports and Corps working together

Planning for 20 years of routine dredging activity and material placement

Sponsor ports: Longview, Kalama, Woodland, Vancouver, Portland

Public involvement process has already begun with Draft EIS released in September, and public comment open

Learn more: http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/lcrchannelmaintenance/

20-year plan requires cost share of $170M

$85M from Oregon, $85M from Washington

To be paid by only 4 ports

25 of 39

Thank You!�

Neil Maunu, Executive Director

�Pacific Northwest Waterways Association

neil.maunu@pnwa.net

26 of 39

International WorkBoat Show

December 3, 2025

New Orleans, LA

27 of 39

Then…

Now…

28 of 39

16 Locks & Dams in Pittsburgh District

29 of 39

PROMOTING COMMERCIAL

NAVIGATION

Advocate for Lock and Dam Funding

Educate public on importance of locks and dams

Act on leads for cargo and site development

Partner with local/state/federal agencies and industry coalitions

Assist private industry with grant opportunities

30 of 39

31 of 39

32 of 39

33 of 39

Lower Monongahela River Project

Elizabeth Locks & Dam Removal

July 2024 - Present

34 of 39

Lower Monongahela River Project

Elizabeth Locks & Dam Removal

July 2024 - Present

35 of 39

Lower Monongahela River Project

Elizabeth Locks & Dam Removal

July 2024 - Present

36 of 39

50% Chance of

Major Failure

By

2027/2028

37 of 39

WCI / ENO Waterborne Competitiveness Report, May 2022

38 of 39

To Date, 35 vessels & 1 Crane Complete!
50/50 cost share
$28,000,000 ($14M CMAQ/$14M Private)
1^st Crane completed in Spring 2025
PortPitt Awarded $6M for 2025-2028

Port of Pittsburgh

CMAQ Program

39 of 39

THANK YOU!