June 2018 Port Report

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Great Grain!

Lewis-Clark Terminal adds two storage bins; company can now hold over 10 million bushels

[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_single_image image=”9144″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]LCT added two 90 ft. x 135 ft. steel storage bins this year with a combined capacity of 1.2 million bushels.

General Manager Scott Zuger said these are the first upright storage structures the company has added since 1983, bringing total capacity at LCT to over 10 million bushels.

Zuger said the expansion provides much needed additional storage for handling the high volume of grain produced by local farmers. On average, LCT ships 22 million bushels annually down the Snake-Columbia River System. (We did the math and discovered that represents about 1.54 billion loaves of bread!)

Zuger said the bins, which took 10 months to complete, were the first part of a two-phase project. Now, the company is working to fully automate controls for everything on the east side of the facility.

The grain storage process is more intricate than you might think. Basically, grain deliveries are dropped by hopper truck into a gravity pit. From there, grain is scooped and carried up a vertical conveyor belt. At the top, the grain is discharged onto the upper drag and separated into one of several storage areas.

“We have a lot of choices so we can segregate by class and protein,” said Zuger.

When it’s time to ship, grain is released from the bottom of storage structures and conveyed to a waiting river barge.

LCT is at its busiest during the harvest peak. In late summer, they field some 340 semi trucks per day. While things move a little slower in other months, LCT receives and ships grain all year long. The newly completed bins are already full, one with red and the other with white wheat.

LCT is owned by CHS Primeland, Pacific Northwest Farmers Coop and Uniontown Coop. These cooperatives represent over 2,000 grain growers in our region who provide grain to over 30 countries worldwide.

“LCT is an important local partner and one that clearly demonstrates the importance of our multiuse river system,” said Port Commission Secretary/Treasurer Mike Thomason.

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Did you know?

Nearly 10 percent of all U.S. wheat travels the Snake River and nearly half of all U.S. wheat exports travel the Columbia River each year.

Test your knowledge

How many grain elevators are there along the inland Columbia and Snake Rivers?

a) 32
b) 27
c) 12
d) 20

* The correct answer is b) 27! Grain travels from one of these elevators to the lower river ports for export overseas.

Wherever you live in the Northwest, river commerce reaches your door

A new collaborative website is available explaining the many benefits of the Columbia-Snake River System and what it means to all of us here in the Pacific Northwest.

Learn more @

ourworkingrivers.com

[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”16px”][vc_column_text]Thanks to a new video from the Idaho Wheat Commission, you can follow the path of a wheat shipment from Lewiston downriver. Click here to check it out![/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]

Partnerships help us reach common goals

Some of the important organizations the Port supports are highlighted below. As the saying goes, individually we are one drop, but together we are a river.

[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]The Lewis-Clark Valley is perched at the confluence of the beautiful Snake and Clearwater rivers. Some 465 miles later, the Snake River, having joined forces with the mighty Columbia, empties into the vast Pacific Ocean. Our majestic rivers power our economy and our environment. As our rivers take care of us, we have a tremendous responsibility to take care of our rivers. The Port of Lewiston partners with diverse organizations to ensure a healthy, productive river system for now and for future generations.

Northwest RiverPartners

Northwest power producers are leaders in addressing climate change. Did you know our carbon footprint is half that of other parts of the country? Nearly 60 percent of our electricity comes from hydropower. 

Northwest RiverPartners is an alliance of farmers, utilities, ports and businesses working to preserve and raise awareness about our hydropower system. Northwest RiverPartners maintains an educational website: nwriverpartners.org and orchestrates the Clean Hydro Campaign, which[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”9146″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]has produced videos showcasing hydropower. Learn more at cleanhydro.com.

Pacific Northwest Waterways Association

        According to the EPA, transportation accounts for approximately 28 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Barging can help address this environmental impact because it is the most fuel efficient way to transport cargo and offers the greatest capacity. It’s also the safest and most affordable way to transport goods.

 [/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”9147″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]The above graphic appears on one of many fact sheets created by Pacific Northwest Waterways Association (Source: Texas Transportation Institute).  PNWA is a collaboration of ports, businesses, public agencies and individuals who work to support navigation, energy, trade and economic development throughout the Pacific Northwest. Learn more about PNWA and 2018 policies and projects at pnwa.net.

 [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]Idaho Department of Fish & Game – Steelhead in the Classroom[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image=”9148″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]

A mentor biologist places steelhead eggs in the classroom tank in Genesee.

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The federal dams on the Columbia-Snake River System brought great things, like navigation, hydropower and recreation opportunities. But, they also affected the habitat and migration of the region’s anadromous salmon and steelhead. Work must continue to ensure these iconic species and dams successfully co-exist.

The Idaho Department of Fish & Game’s Steelhead in the Classroom program is playing a big role in preserving these culturally historic fish. Each year, area fifth graders observe steelhead hatch and grow in classroom tanks and participate in numerous activities to learn more about the fish and local waterways. Ultimately, students release their juvenile fish into the river.

Jennifer Bruns, IDFG regional conservation educator, said 19 schools participated this year.

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Summertime is river time!

Upcoming events highlight the benefits of our multiuse river system

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June 2:  Snake River Family Festival

Start your summer vacation off right with the Snake River Family Festival at Boyer Park & Marina. The family-friendly event will take place from 11 a.m.—3 p.m. and features live music from Sammy Eubanks, free food, activities for kids and more. The festival will highlight the multipurpose Columbia-Snake River System’s contribution to the region’s economy and quality of life.

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Sept. 20-23: Nez Perce County Fair

 The Port of Lewiston will once again have a fun educational booth at the Nez Perce County Fair.

 Come visit us to see our hydropower and fiber optics demonstrations and to participate in the penny cargo challenge!

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Sept. 8: Riverfest in Kennewick, Washington

This celebration of our rivers will occur at Columbia Park from 11 a.m.—3 p.m.  This event is also free and offers fun for the entire family, including educational exhibits, a tugboat tour, hands-on learning experiences and other entertainment.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”9150″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]

Sept. 8: Riverfest of the Lewis Clark Valley

This local event celebrates our rivers  and is always a blast for the whole family. It features plenty of live music, vendors and kid-friendly activities.

Riverfest of the LC Valley takes place at Granite Lake Park in Clarkston from noon—5 p.m.

 [/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_separator][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image=”9152″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”5/6″][vc_single_image image=”9153″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]Our fiscal year runs July 1-June 30 and we are in the budgeting process for FY19. Proposed expenditures for the upcoming year total just over $1.6 million. The Port has budgeted revenue of $405,000 from the property tax levy. The estimated levy rate decrease this year is 3.85 percent. Since 1990, property owners have seen a cumulative rate reduction of nearly 70 percent. The average Lewiston homeowner pays less than $16/year to the Port. Primary revenue sources for FY19 include dock and warehouse operations ($478,700) and rentals ($482,448).

Even as the Port’s property tax rate declines, we continue to invest in key economic development projects. We are budgeting $630,000 for land acquisition and economic development activities in FY19. Our efforts to install dark fiber optic cable to improve access to reliable high speed internet throughout Lewiston continue. With our 14 mile network backbone complete (ranging from North Lewiston to the Nez Perce County Airport), we continue to extend lines to serve additional members of our business community.  In FY19, $300,000 is budgeted for such expansions. Fiber strands are leased to service providers at a flat rate. The Port does not provide direct telecommunications services, but rather facilitates greater private sector service delivery by expanding fiber infrastructure.

Additional economic development expense highlights for FY19 include $35,000 slated for rail improvements, $25,000 for the Confluence Waterfront Development Plan and $20,000 to improve areas of Col. Wright Way near Harry Wall Industrial Park to coincide with the City of Lewiston’s efforts to improve the roadway.

Aside from continued growth of our dark fiber network, one of our major accomplishments in FY18 was revamping the former EKO Compost site to increase the local land inventory for business recruitment and expansion in Harry Wall Industrial Park. Approximately 15 acres there are now primed and ready for new businesses. Suites are also available in the Port’s recently renovated business incubator building. We look forward to exploring new opportunities for these properties.

Thank you for your continued support of our work advocating for local jobs in a global economy. Questions or comments about the FY19 Budget? Attend our Public Hearing on June 13 at noon, Port Administrative Office, 1626 6th Ave. N., Lewiston.

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Mary Hasenoehrl
President

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Jerry Klemm
Vice President

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Mike Thomason
Secretary/
Treasurer

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