Feds Grant Approval for Kalama Columbia River Ship Turnaround Project

The project aims to enable larger grain and bulk cargo ships to better utilize the ports of Kalama and Longview.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has granted environmental approval for a project that would dredge a 1,000-foot-wide deep-water ship turnaround in the Columbia River near the Port of Kalama and expand the existing turning basin in Longview. The approval comes despite the agency's environmental review finding the project would harm endangered salmon species. Port officials say the new federal investment will enable the region's continued success in bulk export operations.

Why it matters

The project is intended to accommodate the next generation of larger grain and bulk cargo ships, reducing congestion on the federally designated marine highway. Bulk export operations depend on a massive scale of exports, terminals and ships to remain profitable, so this project is seen as crucial for the region's economic success.

The details

The environmental approval is the second-to-last step, with the project still needing to secure approval from Congress and then win construction funding. Port officials at Longview and Kalama celebrated the 'Finding Of No Significant Impact' report, despite the acknowledged environmental impacts on endangered salmon.

  • The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers granted the environmental approval last month (January 2026).

The players

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

The federal agency that oversees infrastructure projects and granted the environmental approval for the Kalama Columbia River ship turnaround project.

Port of Kalama

One of the two ports that will benefit from the ship turnaround project, located along the Columbia River.

Port of Longview

The other port that will benefit from the ship turnaround project, located along the Columbia River.

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What’s next

The project still needs to secure approval from Congress and then win construction funding before it can move forward.

The takeaway

This project highlights the tradeoffs between economic development and environmental protection, as the Army Corps acknowledged the project would harm endangered salmon species but still granted approval to enable larger ships and continued growth of the region's bulk export industry.