Rep. Newhouse tours Columbia riverfront that Tri-City agencies want returned

U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse toured the Columbia River shoreline in the Tri-Cities on Monday as part of continued efforts to return the land to Tri-Cities control.

Local governments and business groups have been trying for years to get Congress to return 34 miles of waterfront real estate to local control so the Tri-Cities can capitalize on its greatest asset — the river.

The government acquired more than 40,000 acres on the river from private owners beginning in 1945 in the run-up to construction of McNary Dam and flood-control levees.

With the risk of major flooding eased by the dams, advocates say it’s time to return the property to the community.

But some residents fear local officials will allow developer to line the river with upscale condos, restaurants and amenities that ordinary Tri-Citians can’t afford.

They also worry the cities won’t be able to take on the burden of the costs currently borne by the Army Corps of Engineers.

In recent years, it’s estimated that Kennewick, Pasco and Richland spend about $2 million annually to maintain their waterfronts and parks but they don’t control the land.

Newhouse was meeting with local officials Monday to talk about the progress on the reconveyance efforts.

He supports returning control of the land to the cities.

“That’s probably the biggest takeaway from today: Local control is best and I’ve always believed that,” he said.

City officials have said they want to be able to control the land so they can invest in recreation amenities and limited commercial development, such as cafes and a fishing pier. And they have insisted there is no intent to pave the waterfront with private development.

“If we move with this reconveyance — if we move forward — this will be investing in an asset that is owned by the community instead of just being a tenant on the federal government’s land,” Newhouse said. “I think that’s a much better use of public dollars.”

“This isn’t a done deal yet, we’re still having conversations, still trying to make sure that it’s done correctly and I think that that’s key here,” he said.

This story was originally published August 10, 2020 at 12:40 PM.