NEWS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2022
HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A9
Hermiston Herald, File
McNary Lock and Dam on the Columbia River near Umatilla
is in line for upgrades totaling $22.7 million thanks to the
federal Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act.
$22.7 million McNary
Dam project part
of new work plan
Hermiston Herald
McNary Lock and Dam
on the Columbia River
near Umatilla is in line
for almost $23 million in
improvements.
The U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers, Walla Walla
District, in a press release
announced it has allocated
approximately $55 million
for area dams. The federal
Infrastructure Investments
and Jobs Act, which was
signed into law in Novem-
ber 2021, provides funding
for the projects.
The act allocated approx-
imately $17 billion in fund-
ing for Corps’ infrastruc-
ture projects for fi scal years
2022-24.
Among the 2022 proj-
ects in the plan is $22.7 mil-
lion for work on McNary
Lock and Dam, including
replacing downstream gate
gudgeon anchors, spillway
hoists and gates, the acqui-
sition and installation of a
second derrick crane, dredg-
ing and surveys, rehabili-
tating levee drainage pump
stations, upgrades to Hood
Park’s septic system and
reconstruction of Third
Street’s road at the lock and
dam.
Other
projects
are
planned for Dworshak Dam,
Lower Monumental Lock
and Dam, Lower Granite
Lock and Dam, Little Goose
Lock and Dam and Lucky
Peak Dam and Lake. There
also are additional projects
at waterways in the region.
The McNary project, how-
ever, is the largest of all the
listed projects.
“This funding will allow
us to complete critical proj-
ects the District has been
striving to fund for several
years,” said Alan Feistner,
Walla Walla District’s dep-
uty district engineer. “When
completed, these funds will
have helped us lower the
risk of infrastructure fail-
ure and fl ooding, protect the
environment, and improve
effi ciencies to serve the pub-
lic. This is a great benefi t
for our communities and the
Nation.”
Additional funding from
the infrastructure invest-
ments act be made available
to the Walla Walla District in
fi scal years 2023 and 2024.
Hermiston residents
asked to complete
broadband surveys
Hermiston Herald
The clock is ticking
on completing broadband
internet access surveys for
Hermiston.
Starting in January,
residents were able to
weigh in on their inter-
net service and use. Res-
idents with active email
addresses listed with the
city received invitations to
participate in the survey on
Jan. 26. The survey runs
for six weeks and closes at
the end of February.
For residents who did
not receive an invita-
tion via email to partici-
pate, they can find links
from the city of Hermis-
ton website that directs
users to the surveys — one
for individuals and one for
businesses. Byron Smith,
Hermiston city manager,
said the survey could
encourage the direction of
Hermiston’s future.
A press release from the
city explained the surveys
resulted from a partnership
between the city of Herm-
iston and Strategic Net-
works Group to “explore
options for connecting
high-capacity digital infra-
structure throughout city
facilities.”
“The
infrastructure
could be leveraged to also
connect residents, busi-
nesses and institutions,
while
assisting
inter-
net service providers in
extending services to cur-
rently underserved areas,”
the press release states.
“Through this effort, the
city is exploring ways to
encourage healthy com-
petition from internet ser-
vice providers, leading
to improved service and
lower costs for residents
and businesses.”
Once the survey is com-
plete, Smith said its results
will be available on the
city of Hermiston website.
The survey and addi-
tional information is online
at bit.ly/3JxPY3e.
How do
do you
you discover
discover
How
and share
share information
information
and
about your
your community?
community?
about
University of Oregon researchers want to learn how
University of Oregon researchers want to learn how
Hermiston residents find out and share what’s going
Hermiston residents find out and share what’s going
on in their communities.
on in their communities.
Get a chance to get a $10 gift card (as available) by
Get a chance to get a $10 gift card (as available) by
filling out a digital survey with thoughtful and
filling out a digital survey with thoughtful and
meaningful responses. Simply point your mobile
meaningful responses. Simply point your mobile
phone’s camera at this QR Code:
phone’s camera at this QR Code:
Or visit the following webpage:
Or visit the following webpage:
bit.ly/uosurvey-hermiston
bit.ly/uosurvey-hermiston
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