Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced Senate Appropriations Committee approval of more than $100 million in funding for energy and water projects in the state. As part of the Senate’s energy and water development appropriations legislation, Wyden and Smith were able to restore dredging funds for a number of Oregon’s small ports, which received no funds in the President’s FY2004 budget request. Wyden and Smith will continue their efforts to restore dredging funds for all of Oregon’s small ports. The Senators also obtained $20.8 million in funding for the Klamath Project, an ongoing effort to deal with water issues in the Klamath Basin.

“This is one of the most critical appropriations bills the Senate will pass this year, particularly because our small ports need their dredging funds and because Oregonians need the employment opportunities these energy and water projects can provide,” said Wyden.

“These funds are essential to Oregon for both environmental and economic reasons,” said Smith. “Oregonians need this funding for important water and energy projects in order to keep the lights on and businesses thriving as well as restoring and protecting the environment.”

• Funds for dredging were restored to a number of Oregon’s small ports, including Coquille River ($300,000), Chetco River ($300,000), Depoe Slough ($400,000), Port Orford ($300,000), Siuslaw River ($200,000) and the Tillamook Bay and Bar ($300,000).

• A number of projects that will be executed through the Bureau of Reclamation received substantial funding, including the Umatilla Project ($2.7 million), the Phase III Study of the Umatilla Basin Project ($400,000), the piping of the Bend Feed Canal of the Tumalo Irrigation District ($500,000), and the Deschutes Ecosystem Restoration project ($750,000). The Deschutes Project will also receive $3.4 million for the Wickiup Dam and other efforts.

• The Walla Walla Instream Flow General Investigation Study, sponsored by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, will receive $500,000. This multi-year study will assess options to restore stream flows for support of treaty fish resources in the Walla Walla River, while protecting long-term agricultural interests in the Basin.

Other Oregon project approvals include:

• $27.8 million for Columbia River operations and maintenance performed by the Army Corps of Engineers
• $10.9 million for Willamette River projects including temperature control, dredging, basin review, floodplain restoration and bank protection
• $6.3 million for Bonneville Powerhouse (Phase II of major rehabilitation)
• $5.5 million for McNary Lock and Dam
• $5.1 million for Lost Creek Lake
• $4.9 million for Hills Creek Lake
• $4.8 million for Bonneville Lock and Dam
• $4.5 million for John Day Lock and Dam
• $3.6 million for Coos Bay
• $3.57 million for Cougar Lake
• $2.9 million for Columbia River Treaty fishing access sites
• $2.5 million for Green-Foster Lakes
• $2.25 million for Lower Columbia River ecosystem restoration
• $2 million for Detroit Lake
• $2 million for Lookout Point Lake
• $1.2 million for Yaquina Bay and Harbor
• $724,000 for Cottage Grove Lake
• $677,000 for Crooked River Project
• $666,000 for Applegate Lake
• $599,000 for Willow Creek Lake
• $535,000 for Dorena Lake
• $518,000 for Tillamook Bay and Estuary ecosystem restoration
• $500,000 for Elk Creek Lake
• $464,000 for Fall Creek Lake
• $261,000 for Blue River Lake
• $250,000 for Amazon Creek
• $250,000 for Lower Columbia slough
• $134,000 for surveillance of northern boundary waters
• $100,000 for Johnson Creek ecosystem restoration
• $100,000 for Oaks Bottom ecosystem restoration

The Senate’s energy and water appropriations legislation is expected to move to the full Senate for consideration soon.

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