Port managers, Army engineers agree to $2.1 million study
Valerie Ringold, Portland District chief of planning and economics (far-right), explains what a feasibility study is before Army Col. Michael Helton, Portland District commander (center-left), Dan Stahl, Port of Longview chief executive officer (far-left), and Mark Wilson, Port of Kalama executive director (right-center), sign an agreement for a $2.1 million study, Sept. 6 at the Port of Kalama, Washington. Currently, there are very few places on the lower Columbia River to turn large, fully loaded ships. These vessels need to be turned around before passing through Longview, Washington when Pacific Northwest storms force Columbia River Bar closures for unsafe conditions.