Congressman Dennis Cardoza
18th Congressional District of California

Today, Congressmen Dennis Cardoza (CA-18) and Jerry McNerney (CA-11) announced that the U.S. House of Representatives approved nearly $3.4 million in funding for projects to aid the Port of Stockton, based on requests made by Reps. McNerney and Cardoza. Both projects were included in the 2008 Energy and Water Appropriations bill.

 

“Without question, the Port of Stockton is essential to the economic vitality of San Joaquin County and serves as a major catalyst for future job growth in the county,” Rep. McNerney said. “I am thrilled that, working with Congressman Cardoza, we were able to obtain millions for critical Port of Stockton projects, particularly to enable the dredging of the Stockton Ship Canal which will allow the Port to remain an economic engine for the county and the region.”

 

“As the second largest inland port in the country, the Port of Stockton is a crucial economic driver both regionally and nationally,” said Cardoza. “I request this project every year, and I am happy to join with my colleague Jerry McNerney in making it happen again this year. Furthermore, I am pleased that the Appropriations Committee continues to recognize the importance of the port.”

 

Descriptions of the two projects appear below:

 

 

Funding will be used to conduct maintenance dredging and riverbank protection along the 35-foot deep Stockton Ship Channel on the San Joaquin River, which extends from Suisun Bay to the turning basin at the Port of Stockton. Annual maintenance dredging of the Stockton Ship Channel is necessary for the safe passage of deep-draft commercial vessels to the inland-Port of Stockton, the second largest inland port in the United States.

 

 

The Port of Stockton and local governments have expressed interest in widening and deepening the navigation channels extending from the San Francisco Bay to the Port of Stockton. This funding will be used to consider the environmental impact of expanding and dredging this important transportation artery for waterborne traffic. In particular, the funding will be used to initiate sediment testing along with disposal site investigation, hydraulic modeling, channel alignment, and the continuation of environmental studies on the navigation channels.