Letter to the Editor- Praising Thompson, seeking more help for Napa Creek

Napa Valley Register

In Harms Way, Citizens for Napa Creek Neighborhood Flood Protection, applauds Rep. Mike Thompson, D- St. Helena, for his initiative and efforts that ensured funding for the Army Corps of Engineers in the final version of the federal economic stimulus bill (see Napa Valley Register, “Thompson lauds ‘critical' bill for local economy”, Feb. 14). The stimulus bill includes $2 billion for the Corps' construction projects nationwide. These projects will not only generate jobs but allow many communities to move forward with flood projects that will protect homes and businesses.

The funding of flood projects could not have come at a better time. With businesses struggling to survive the economic downturn, residents worried about their financial futures, and local governments seeing a downturn in revenue, the promise of relief from repeatedly having to draw from our reserves (or go into debt) to finance the damage done by repetitive and devastating flooding is very welcomed.
However, even with this good news, there are no assurances that the Napa River/Napa Creek Flood Project will receive any of these funds. The distribution of funds is at the discretion of the Corps. We sincerely hope that the Corps will first and foremost consider full funding of the construction of the Napa Creek portion of the Project. With the current economic downturn, In Harms Way believes that one more flood on Napa Creek will result in the weakening and even folding of many businesses and create unnecessary financial distress (and debt) for residents. With more than 400 homes and more than 100 businesses affected by Napa Creek flooding, and given that Napa Creek floods frequently, it is imperative that full funding be allocated to construct Napa Creek flood defenses. In Harms Way also believes that the Corps should allocate sufficient funds to complete the railroad relocation and Oxbow Bypass elements of the river portion of the project.

In Harms Way sincerely hopes Rep. Thompson can come to the aid of our community again. We need his help to secure funding from the Corps. Without this funding, a project that should have been completed last year, will most likely be completed well after 2020.
Our community worked hard, and together, to create a ground-breaking flood project that is environmentally sensitive and embraces our waterways. Our project protects a multitude of businesses and many historic neighborhoods. Project components completed to date have already removed the threat of flooding from some areas. We need Congressman Thompson's help to finish the job.

Thank you, Rep. Thompson, for your recent efforts to ensure funding is available for Corps projects. Thank you for looking out for the nation's interests and for the interests of those you represent. Job well done. We hope you can help us again.
(Kerr is a spokeswoman for In Harms Way.)