Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI) expressed its pleasure with the passage in the United States Senate of
Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) legislation, S. 728, which authorizes critical U.S. Army Corps of Engineers waterways and natural resources programs. Seven lock and dam modernization projects on the
Upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers, and Bayou Sorrel on the Gulf
Intracoastal Waterway will be authorized by this legislation. The strong vote in favor of the WRDA bill underscores a growing understanding of the importance of the Corps of Engineers
Civil Works program and of the benefits of the inland waterways system and its role in keeping the U.S. economically strong and competitive. The bill aims to improve waterways, ports, flood and hurricane protection systems, and also restore important environmental ecosystems.