Unalaska, AK – The U.S. Senate voted Wednesday to renew the Water Resources Development Act, which stands to benefit several Alaskan communities if it passes the House of Representatives. One of those communities is Akutan. Although Akutan is an important commercial fishing port for the Aleutians, it doesn't have a harbor--all it has, for now, is a city dock. The Senate bill would change that, earmarking $9 million for the construction of a new harbor for the fishing village.

Tammy Stromberg, the city administrator for Akutan, was in Washington earlier this week lobbying for the Senate bill's passage. She says that the project is badly needed.

The Aleutians East Borough, the City of Akutan and Trident Seafoods, which operates a large processing plant in Akutan, have been lobbying for federal funding for a harbor project for two decades. Congress authorized the project last year and appropriated $1.5 million for planning work in Akutan.

The Senate bill appropriation falls short of the $15.2 million in federal funding that Akutan says it needs to complete the harbor project, and the bill still needs to clear the House of Representatives. But Stromberg is confident that the project has Representative Don Young's support, and says $9 million would at least allow work to begin on the harbor.

The planned harbor will be able to accommodate 50 vessels ranging from 24 feet to 180 feet. Stromberg says the construction is further justified by the city's plans to develop its geothermal resources on Akutan Volcano.