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Washington, DC -- Today Congressman David Wu announced his success in securing $300,000 for the Tualatin River Basin Water Supply Project in H.R. 2419, the Fiscal Year 2006 Energy and Water appropriations bill. The project addresses the long-term water supply for Washington County residents and businesses. Demand for water in the Tualatin Basin is expected to double by 2050.
"Ensuring a long-term, dependable water supply for Washington County residents and businesses is crucial to the economic future of the county and the state of Oregon," stated Congressman Wu. "Today we have taken another crucial step forward towards project completion."
The Tualatin River Basin Water Supply Project began in 2001 with a feasibility study of possible options for meeting future water demands. The study, completed early last year, determined that Scoggins Dam should be raised by 40 feet to double the storage capacity of Washington County's Hagg Lake. Subsequently, last winter, the Bureau of Reclamation of the U.S. Department of the Interior began the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) phase of the project.
The $300,000 Congressman Wu secured today will help continue to fund the Environment Impact Statement (EIS). This is in addition to $250,000 Congressman Wu secured in fiscal year 2005 toward the EIS. Washington County officials and water agency representatives hope the EIS is completed by the summer of 2006. Project completion, following permitting, final design and construction, is estimated to be in the summer of 2011.
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