Thompson Announces Additional Funding for Napa Flood Protection

Thompson Announces Additional Funding for Napa Flood Protection

September 5, 2008

WASHINGTONâ€" Today, Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA) announced that he has secured $900,000 in additional funding for the Napa River Project from the Army Corps of Engineers. This additional funding will help accelerate the Napa Creek phase of the project.

"Continued funding for the Napa flood project is essential to the safety of our community," said Thompson. "We need to make sure that construction can continue and our businesses and homes are protected in case of another flood. In addition to fighting for this project in the regular congressional funding process, I'll keep looking for every bit of money to help move the Napa River Project along."

Last year, Congressman Thompson secured $10.8 million for the Napa Flood Project, which was $3.3 million above the President's budget request. To date, Congressman Thompson has successfully increased funding over the President's budget for this project by $27.2 million.

For 2009, the House Appropriations Committee included $11 million for the Napa River Flood Project in the FY09 energy and water appropriations bill. This figure is $3.6 million more than President Bush included in his budget proposal to Congress. The bill has been passed by the Committee but awaits consideration by the full House of Representatives.

In December 2005 and January 2006, flooding along the Napa River caused more than $115 million worth of damage to Napa and the surrounding communities. More than 1,200 homes and 250 businesses suffered flood damage. Fortunately, the areas where the existing Napa River Flood project was completed were protected. Otherwise, the damage would have undoubtedly been more severe.

The Napa River Project is widely viewed as the premier flood protection and environmental restoration project in the country and is used by the Army Corps of Engineers as a model for other projects nationwide.