**UPDATE** The City received word in May of 2026, that it has been selected by the Army Corps under Section 219 for a wastewater project to replace a sewer main on Demase St. This is a great opportunity for our community.

In 2021 while meeting with Army Corps representatives about the possibility of a new regional raw water supply, we learned about the Environmental Infrastructure Assistance Program Section 219. This cost sharing funding opportunity first needs Congressional authorization before any appropriations can be made. Over the next year we worked with our regional partners and 6th District Representative John Rose to help craft language to name projects within the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), that could potentially receive funding.

In December 2022, the National Defense Authorization Act was signed (Public Law 117-263); and within that legislation was the WRDA containing authorization for Portland and regional partners. Since its inception, we have pursued appropriation approval for projects, and now in 2026 it appears we are closer than ever before. We met with Army Corps representatives in February 2026 to discuss projects, and how the Section 219 assistance would work. Our focus now is on wastewater projects that would specifically target known Sanitary Sewer Overflows within the system.

Over the decades as Portland tried to correct many of the lingering utility issues, the City was often guided to follow a particular plan based on a study or engineering review; and when that path did not work, a new path was pursued. That only led to wasted years and sometimes wasted resources. Instead, we should always pursue a multi-pronged approach on these major issues, since unknown obstacles create delays. While possible 75/25 cost share funding from the Army Corps Section 219 is a lengthy and time-consuming process, it is another way to provide possible alternatives for our community’s future.

Hopefully one day, Portland will be able to report that a WRDA project was completed, and that limited resources were used from its citizens for the funding.