By Staff Report Tuesday, February 9th, 2016

Two Ventura County harbors will receive federal funding to continue dredging operations.

The Ventura Harbor will receive $11.6 million in federal funding for dredging operations over the next two years. Channel Islands Harbor will also receive $9.85 million in federal funds for dredging this year.

The Army Corps of Engineers included $7.33 million in this year’s budget for dredging in Ventura Harbor. President Barack Obama also included $4.3 million in his fiscal year 2017 budget to dredge the harbor next year.

Ventura Harbor officials said in a news release that it needs dredging more than normal years because strong currents caused by this winter’s El Nino caused sand and salt to build up.

The Channel Islands Harbor will also get $7.98 million in the president’s budget. The Navy funds 19 percent of dredging projects at the Channel Islands Harbor, so the port will receive $9.85 million total.

The Army Corps of Engineers started dredging Channel Islands Harbor decades ago because erosion threatened Navy buildings at the nearby Port of Hueneme.

Ventura Harbor officials said the harbor closed briefly this year because of the build up of sand and salt. The Ventura Harbor has an economic benefit of $246 million annually, according to a news release.

• Contact Philip Joens at pjoens@pacbiztimes.com.