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Washington, D.C. --- The U.S. Senate joined the House of Representatives in voting to override President Bush's veto of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 on Tuesday. By enacting the legislation over the president's objection, the House authorized $15 million for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to move ahead with small-scale watershed restoration projects like stream bank restoration in Marlboro, said U.S. Reps. Rush Holt (D-NJ) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), who requested the project.
Over the past two decades, Marlboro Township has experienced large population growth, resulting in an increase in housing and commercial development. This development, along with inadequate infrastructure, has caused various watershed related problems including water quality, erosion, deposition, environmental degradation and flooding.
With the passage of this legislation, the Township will begin to work with the Army Corps to develop and implement a comprehensive watershed management plan in order to address these problems. Marlboro Township already developed a management plan for the Deep Run Watershed, and now plans to do the same for Barclay Brook, Milford Brook, and Yellow Brook Watersheds.
"Congress has overturned the president's veto and approved critical federal involvement in an innovative plan by Marlboro Township to address its watershed problems," Pallone said. "These problems have developed over the last two decades as the township experienced huge population growth. I commend Marlboro Township for coming up with creative solutions to its watershed problems, and I hope that we can now move this plan forward with assistance from the federal government."
“This authorized funding will allow the Army Corps of Engineers to work with local officials to develop and implement a comprehensive watershed management plan to address recent watershed problems,” Holt said. “It’s a good investment, and I’m pleased we could override the President’s misguided veto.”
The Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (WRDA) authorizes water projects for the Army Corps, and is intended to be considered by Congress every two years. While authorization legislation lists specific funding levels, the Marlboro project must still go through the annual appropriations process to receive the funding included in WRDA. |
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