It handles primarily agricultural products and other bulk goods rather than containers, which dominate the shipping market.

A plan to dredge the channel to 35 feet (11 m) became stalled in 1990 because the Port of Sacramento was unable to finance its share of the cost.

[3] The Sacramento Deep Water Ship Channel was authorized by the River and Harbor Act of 24 July 1946.

[5] The channel is part of the California Green Trade Corridor project.

[citation needed] Green Trade Corridor Marine Highway (ports of Oakland-Stockton-West Sacramento) can improve goods movement through Northern California.