Chittenden (Ballard)
Locks
Keystone of Puget
Sound’s Maritime
Economy
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Item No. 7b_supp
Meeting date: June 27, 2017
Our 100 Year Old Waterway
• Keystone of a billion dollar+ maritime economic system
• Critical environmental control for vast watersheds around
Seattle
• Safeguard for tribal fishing rights
• Vital piece of public safety infrastructure
• Only US locks connecting large urban lake/river system
directly to the ocean
(Chittenden) Ballard Locks – A Unique National Asset
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The Numbers
• 40,000 annual transits
– Most in the nation
• 7,500 commercial vessel transits
– Twelfth highest in the nation
• 1.1 million tons of shipping
Heaviest Locks Utilization in United States System
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The Dollars & Jobs
• $480 million in Locks- dependent annual sales
• $120 million in Locks- dependent annual payroll
• 3,000 full-time equivalent jobs directly associated with Locks-related
business activity
• $545 million in annual commercial fishing harvests by vessels that
depend on the Locks
• $40 million in annual spending by 1.25 million visitors and school
classes
• $1.2 billion in total Locks-related economic activity
A Treasure for Local Businesses & Visitors
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Low Budgets / High Needs
• Deferred maintenance threatens daily
operations
• Lack of investment threatens regional
economy
• Flat O&M budgets insufficient
Significant Reinvestment Required
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The Regional Partners
American Waterways Operators
Ballard Alliance
Ballard Oil Company
City of Kenmore
City of Kirkland
City of Seattle
Coastal Transportation
Covich-Williams
CSR Marine
Ferguson Terminal
Foss Maritime Company
Fremont Dock Company
Kane Environmental
King County
Kirby Offshore Marine
Lake Union Drydock Co.
Malone Law Group
Nautical Landing Marina
Northwest Marine Trade Assn
Northwest Yacht Brokers Assn
O’Hara Corporation
Pacific Fishermen Shipyard
The Lake Washington Ship Canal Users Group
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Pacific Fishermen Shipyard
Port of Seattle
Puget Sound Ports Council Maritime
Trades Department AFL-CIO
Seattle Marine Business Coalition
Stabbert Marine
Trident Seafoods
Vigor Industrial
United Cathcher Boats
United States Seafoods
Western Towboat
Request for Commission Support
We ask the Port of Seattle Commission to issue a
statement requesting federal funding to address the
Locks’ major, non-routine maintenance needs and to
authorize staff to advocate for this funding alongside
other members of the Lake Washington Ship Canal
Users Group.
The Facts Are In – The Work Continues
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