WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today Congresswoman Lois Capps announced the approval of $1.426 million for dredging in Morro Bay Harbor as part of the Fiscal Year 2008 Energy and Water Appropriations bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives.

At the request of Congresswoman Capps, the bill included funding for the annual dredging of the Morro Bay Harbor in order to maintain a channel depth of between 30 and 40 feet thereby allowing for safe passage of harbor traffic.  Morro Bay Harbor is the only commercial and recreational harbor located between Santa Barbara and Monterey. 

“Continued dredging of Morro Bay Harbor is essential for the survival of our fishing and tourism industries,” said Capps.  “This federal funding will help support our top-notch facilities at the harbor, allow safe passage for the harbor’s commercial, recreational and Coast Guard traffic, and keep our waterways clean and healthy for generations to come.  I am pleased to have been able to obtain this funding for this important project, but more funding will be needed to complete a full dredge of the harbor. ”

The harbor is home to U.S. Coast Guard Station Morro Bay, which provides primary waterside security for Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant and Vandenberg Air Force Base.  The Coast Guard station also serves critical law enforcement and search and rescue missions for more than 300 miles of California’s coastline. 

Capps has worked to secure funding for this program since being elected to Congress in 1998.  Failure to adequately maintain the channels would likely cause the closure of U.S.C.G. Station Morro Bay, endanger the fragile Central Coast commercial fishing industry, and impair other businesses in the Harbor. 

“While I am very pleased at the funding in this bill, nothing is final until the House and Senate work out differences between their separate versions of the legislation and the bill is signed into law,” noted Capps.  “I will continue to work to make sure Central Coast priorities are taken care of in this legislation.”

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Pictured above: (center) Congresswoman Capps meets with Central Coast firefighters to discuss emergency preparedness.