WASHINGTON, DC – The US House of Representatives has approved several projects championed by Congressman Bill Delahunt to improve navigation essential to the region’s marine- and tourism-based economy.
The legislation includes Army Corps of Engineers projects in Cohasset, Chatham, and Falmouth. If approved by the US Senate, funding for these projects would begin in early 2007.
"Replenishing storm-damaged beaches and maintaining our harbors and waterways is essential to the economic livelihood of our region," said Delahunt, who has advocated for these projects for the last year.
Specifically, the bill provides $210,000 for Woods Hole and $341,000 for Aunt Lydia’s Cove in Chatham for maintenance dredging to enhance safety for commercial fishermen and recreational boaters.
In addition to shoaling mitigation projects, Delahunt also secured $738,000 to continue planning and habitat restoration efforts on Treats Pond in Cohasset and funding for the operation and maintenance of the Cape Cod Canal.
The Delahunt initiatives were contained in the fiscal year 2007 Energy and Water Appropriations bill. After passing the House by an overwhelming margin, the measure now moves to the US Senate.
Maintaining Maritime Infrastructure Isn’t a Luxury
Yesterday in Chatham, Rep. Delahunt discussed with local officials how severe cuts in Army Corps funds, the diversion on Corps funds to Iraq, and restrictions on "reprogramming" have made it extremely difficult for the Army Corps to undertake routine dredging projects throughout New England.
In our area, the Corps is responsible for maintaining safe navigation in over 170 ports throughout New England, including coastal communities such as Harwich, Dennis, Hyannis, Wellfleet, Provincetown, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Scituate and Marshfield.
"Maintaining our ports and harbors is important for our economy and marine environment," Delahunt said. "It’s a matter of life or death – for the commercial fishing fleet, tourist economy, or mariners waiting for Coast Guard search and rescue."
A few weeks ago, Delahunt announced his success in securing funding for dredging the Fore River in Weymouth. Access to the Fore River is needed for numerous South Shore businesses and for the delivery of fuel oil to the Greater Boston area.
Restrictions on Corps funding made it almost impossible to get this work finished. Funds were made available after three months of intense lobbying by Delahunt on the Bush administration.
This past year, Delahunt has joined with local harbormasters and Selectmen in fighting for more funds. With funds also needed for Boston Harbor and the Cape Cod Canal, Delahunt will be organizing a much larger effort to convince the Congress to fully fund Corps maintenance dredging program.
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