PROJECT LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION

The project is located in the counties of Sacramento, Yolo, and Solano.  The Sacramento Deep Water Ship Channel is a low-use, deep-draft project authorized to maintain a 30-foot deep channel for the upper 43 miles of an 80-mile long ship channel.  It connects the Port of West Sacramento with the Pacific Ocean.  The project also includes 33 miles of dual purpose navigation and flood protection levees. 

FY 23 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Funding was used for routine maintenance dredging of the channel to the authorized depth of 30 feet, compliance with mandated water quality certification, and continued updating of programmatic agreements for Endangered Species Act.

FY 24 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Funding will be used for routine maintenance dredging of the channel to the authorized depth of 30 feet, compliance with mandated water quality certification, and continued updating of programmatic agreements for Endangered Species Act.

ISSUES AND OTHER INFORMATION 

• The ship channel is an integral component of the California Bay Delta ecosystem and supports the Port of West Sacramento which is a vital link to California’s agriculture industry.  The latest commercial tonnage of goods shipped through the harbor is 260,000 tons. The only U.S. Coast Guard station in the California Bay Delta is located along the channel.  Overall responsibility for the project was transferred to San Francisco District effective in FY 2015, although levee maintenance will continue to be managed by Sacramento District.
• This project was previously paired with the San Joaquin River (Port of Stockton) dredging project and both have been awarded as one contract.  This approach, though, has negatively impacted the success of our dredging of the San Joaquin project.  Therefore the projects will be contracted for dredging independently going forward.
• The channel was successfully dredged by clamshell dredging for the first time in 2022.
• For FY24, funding will be used for routine maintenance dredging of the channel to the authorized depth of 30 feet, compliance with mandated water quality certification, and continued updating of programmatic agreements for Endangered Species Act.
• The project delivery team will be seeking to include the option of clamshell dredging in the 2024 dredging contract.

CONGRESSIONAL INTEREST

• 7^th District, Rep. Doris Matsui

POINT OF CONTACT

• Deputy for Project Management, Thomas R. Williams, 415-503-6560

Updated on 29 February 2024

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