In the second half of the 19th century, the USACE dredged channels and built locks and levees in the Willamette's watershed. Although products such as lumber were often transported on an existing network of railroads in Oregon, these advances in navigation helped businesses deliver more goods to Portland, feeding the city's growing economy. Trade goods from the Columbia basin north of Portland could also be transported southward on the Willamette due to the deeper channels made at the Willamette's mouth.
in the second half of the 19th century the usace dredged channels and built locks and levees in the willamette's watershed although products such as lumber were often transported on an existing network of railroads in oregon these advances in navigation helped businesses deliver more goods to portland feeding the city's growing economy trade goods from the columbia basin north of portland could also be transported southward on the willamette due to the deeper channels made at the willamette's mouth