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Value to the Nation

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Capital Stock: Navigation National Level Report

Simple observations on the calculated capital stock value covered under the Navigation functional category are as follows (values in 2023 $):

  • Significant investment in the Navigation functional category occurred from 1936 up until WWII (see "USACE Capital Stock Additions, Navigation" figure). During WWII, annual investments declined significantly for several years. Following WWII, annual investments in this stock generally increased each year through about 1966, when it peaked at slightly over $5.0 billion per year (with dredging) and $4.2 billion per year without dredging.
  • Annual investment in the Navigation functional category generally declined after 1966 until about 1984. However, because investment continued to exceed estimated deterioration during this period, the capital stock continued to increase through 1984. Since 1984, investment in the total navigation (with dredging) stock has hovered around $2 billion per year (all values in 2023 dollars), or about $1 billion per year for navigation excluding dredging. 
  • The value of the total Navigation (with dredging) capital stock peaked in 1991 at about $103 billion.  Similarly, Navigation, independent of dredging, peaked in 1990 at about $95 billion. Since 1993, annual deterioration in the estimated capital stock has exceeded investments, resulting in a decreasing capital stock.
  • The 2023 USACE total Navigation (with dredging) capital stock value is $82.4 billion, or approximately what it was in 1968. Similarly, the 2023 USACE Navigation capital stock value, excluding dredging, is $71 billion, or about what it was in 1966.

The total Navigation (with dredging) capital stock has declined a little over 20% since peaking in 1991 and is currently about 80% of its peak 1991 value.

Graphic of USACE Capital Stock Additions for Navigation

Graphic of USACE Capital Stock Value for Navigation

 

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2023 Capital Stock Fast Facts