WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today Congresswoman Lois Capps announced the approval of $4,040,000 for water projects in Santa Barbara County 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 includes $100,000 to continue the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Feasibility Study to investigate shoreline protection and coastal storm damage reduction along the Carpinteria shoreline.  The study will examine proposed alternative plans to protect the shoreline, including: beach nourishment, submerged artificial reefs and seawalls. 

“I am pleased that this funding was allocated for the Army Corps’ study of the Carpinteria shoreline,” said Capps.  “I’ve seen firsthand how the City of Carpinteria’s coastline and beaches have suffered tremendous erosion and storm damage over the last decade.  We need this study to examine proposals to protect the shoreline and minimize coastal storm damage.”   

At the request of Congresswoman Capps, the bill also includes $1,940,000 for dredging in Santa Barbara Harbor. 

“Annual dredging of the Santa Barbara Harbor is essential to ensuring the vitality of our fishing and tourism industries,” said Capps.  “We have to regularly dredge the channel to make sure it remains navigable throughout the year.  Failing to properly maintain our channel would result in accumulated sand in the channel and would likely lead to the closure of Coast Guard operations, important marine resource research and monitoring, local commercial and recreational fishing and other successful businesses in the Harbor.  This much needed federal funding will help support our top-notch facilities at the harbor, continue to allow safe passage for the harbor’s commercial, recreational and Coast Guard traffic, and keep our waterways clean and healthy for the foreseeable future.”

Santa Barbara Harbor, a commercial and recreational harbor, is the homeport to a variety of U.S. government vessels, including the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Blackfin, which provides critical law enforcement and search and rescue missions in the Santa Barbara Channel, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s research and monitoring vessel, the R/V Shearwater. 

Capps additionally announced approval of $2 million for the Lake Cachuma Water and Sewage Treatment Replacement Project. 

The Bureau of Reclamation is preparing to raise the level of the Lake Cachuma to capture, retain and subsequently release additional water for the protection of habitat for the endangered steelhead trout.  Raising the level of Lake will impact various existing structures around Lake Cachuma, including a water intake facility and treatment plant, and two sewer lift stations.  This funding will enable the Bureau of Reclamation to replace these critical water facilities and ensure a stable water supply for the area and continued operations for recreational visitors to the Lake

“This federal funding for the Lake Cachuma Water and Sewage Treatment Replacement Project is good news for the Santa Barbara area,” said Capps.  “Lake Cachuma is the primary source of water for the Santa Barbara region as well as a popular destination for recreational activities such as camping, boating and fishing.  It’s important that we protect habitat for endangered species like the steelhead trout while additionally ensuring that the Lake’s water facilities are properly maintained to protect this stable water supply for our community.”  

“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 and South 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.