Three major projects related to long-term dredged material management in the Port of Mobile are moving forward in Congress.
In collaboration with the Alabama Port Authority and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Republican U.S. Senator Katie Britt of Alabama has worked over the past year to secure additional uses related to the Port of Mobile’s ship channel deepening and widening project and ongoing ship channel maintenance.
These projects include an additional $47 million for USACE’s operation and maintenance of the Mobile Ship Channel, funding for a federal study to analyze sediment flows to ensure wise use of dredged material, and language in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024 to ensure wise use of dredged material to protect Alabama’s natural resources.
“Alabama is blessed with incredible natural resources and we must ensure we use them to strengthen our state and our future. Whether it’s sand to restore Dauphin Island or material to create wetlands, it’s our responsibility to steward these resources and ensure their wise use at every opportunity. I’m proud to work with the Port of Mobile and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to pass important legislation and strategic investments that will ensure the Port’s vital work can continue to provide important conservation benefits while supporting economic growth and good-paying jobs in all 67 Alabama counties,” said Senator Britt.
The $47 million will be used for the operation and maintenance of the federal canal. The funding will encourage the profitable use of suitable materials to improve the infrastructure for navigation and recreation.
In addition, Britt recently advanced $5 million to support the development of the Decatur Inland Intermodal facility, which will connect the Port of Mobile to northern Alabama to better reach major mid-US markets such as Nashville and Chicago.
“Senator Britt has always been a champion of the port, and that work does not stop in Mobile. Port growth across the state, and especially our inland intermodal facilities, are dependent on deeper water and keeping the Mobile Ship Channel open. We appreciate her leadership in ensuring port projects can move forward and benefit our entire state and its natural resources,” said John C. Driscoll, director and CEO of the Alabama Port Authority.
This funding and permitting language is in addition to ongoing economic use projects, including shoreline restoration on Dauphin Island, wetland restoration on the Deer River, and oyster restoration in Mobile Bay. The Port of Mobile has committed to using all allowable dredged material for economic use projects in and around Mobile Bay. Statewide, USACE has committed to using 70% of usable material in economic use projects by 2030.
The pending bills have already passed the respective committees and are now awaiting approval by Congress.
