McNary Lock and Dam on the Columbia River near Umatilla is in line for upgrades totaling $22.7 million in 2022 thanks to the federal Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act.

UMATILLA — 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 November 2021, provides funding for the projects.

The act allocated approximately $17 billion in funding for Corps’ infrastructure projects for fiscal years 2022-24.

Among the 2022 projects in the plan is $22.7 million for work on McNary Lock and Dam, including replacing downstream gate gudgeon anchors, spillway hoists and gates, the acquisition and installation of a second derrick crane, dredging and surveys, rehabilitating levee drainage pump stations, upgrades to Hood Park’s septic system and reconstruction of Third Street’s road at the lock and dam.

There are additional projects at waterways in the region. The McNary project, however, is the largest of all the listed projects.

“This funding will allow us to complete critical projects the District has been striving to fund for several years,” said Alan Feistner, Walla Walla District’s deputy district engineer. “When completed, these funds will have helped us lower the risk of infrastructure failure and flooding, protect the environment, and improve efficiencies to serve the public. This is a great benefit for our communities and the Nation.”

Additional funding from the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act be made available to the Walla Walla District in fiscal years 2023 and 2024.