REPS. MIKE THOMPSON, GEORGE MILLER PASS PROVISION IN THE HOUSE ELIMINATING UNNECESSARY BUREAUCRACY AT WALNUT CREEK
October 24, 2013
Provision Allows Contra Costa Flood Control And Water Conservation Districts to Directly Perform Flood Control and Habitat Restoration on Walnut Creek Project
U.S. Reps. Mike Thompson (CA-05) and George Miller (CA-11) today secured the passage of a provision in H.R. 3080, the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2013 (WRRDA), that will de-authorizes a four-mile segment of the existing Walnut Creek Project, taking it out of Army Corps control. De-authorizing this four-mile segment eliminates unnecessary U.S. Army Corps bureaucracy and allows the Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District to directly perform flood control and habitat restoration on the remaining 18 miles of the Walnut Creek Project.
“Because of bureaucratic barriers in place due to Army Corps regulations, our local partners cannot complete the necessary work to prevent localized flooding, restore habitat, and maintain channel depth,” said Thompson. “By removing this four-mile segment from the Army Corps control, our local partners at the Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District can get this necessary work done in a timely manner.”
“Currently there are maintenance limitations on our local partners that increase the likelihood of localized flooding, so I'm pleased to see progress in deauthorizing this four mile segment of the Walnut Creek Flood Project,” said Miller. “My colleagues and the County agree, an alternative flood management approach is necessary to facilitate much needed flood protection and habitat restoration.”
The Walnut Creek Project is a 22-mile flood control project that was previously authorized by Congress in 1960. During a recent evaluation of the project, the U.S. Army Corps determined that the entire 22-mile project does not meet their standards because four miles of the project, near the mouth of the creek, were of concern.
To bring the entire 22-mile project up to standard, work would need to be done on the four miles identified by the Corps' evaluation. However, this work on a very limited segment of the project would likely be significantly delayed due to numerous Corps requirements to consult with various federal agencies.
By removing the four-mile portion that is of concern to the Corps, Thompson's provision will leave the status of the remaining 18-miles of the Walnut Creek Project unchanged, while allowing for more efficient management of the lower four miles.
WRRDA was passed by the House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of 417-3. The Senate passed a different WRDA bill, S. 601 on May 15th by a bipartisan vote of 83-14. The bills are now expected to go to a conference committee to resolve their differences.
Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California's 5th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma Counties. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Rep. Thompson is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and chairs the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus.
“Because of bureaucratic barriers in place due to Army Corps regulations, our local partners cannot complete the necessary work to prevent localized flooding, restore habitat, and maintain channel depth,” said Thompson. “By removing this four-mile segment from the Army Corps control, our local partners at the Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District can get this necessary work done in a timely manner.”
“Currently there are maintenance limitations on our local partners that increase the likelihood of localized flooding, so I'm pleased to see progress in deauthorizing this four mile segment of the Walnut Creek Flood Project,” said Miller. “My colleagues and the County agree, an alternative flood management approach is necessary to facilitate much needed flood protection and habitat restoration.”
The Walnut Creek Project is a 22-mile flood control project that was previously authorized by Congress in 1960. During a recent evaluation of the project, the U.S. Army Corps determined that the entire 22-mile project does not meet their standards because four miles of the project, near the mouth of the creek, were of concern.
To bring the entire 22-mile project up to standard, work would need to be done on the four miles identified by the Corps' evaluation. However, this work on a very limited segment of the project would likely be significantly delayed due to numerous Corps requirements to consult with various federal agencies.
By removing the four-mile portion that is of concern to the Corps, Thompson's provision will leave the status of the remaining 18-miles of the Walnut Creek Project unchanged, while allowing for more efficient management of the lower four miles.
WRRDA was passed by the House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of 417-3. The Senate passed a different WRDA bill, S. 601 on May 15th by a bipartisan vote of 83-14. The bills are now expected to go to a conference committee to resolve their differences.
Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California's 5th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma Counties. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Rep. Thompson is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and chairs the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus.
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Issues:Energy & Environment