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Senator Klobuchar Supports Passage of Water Resources Development Act

Klobuchar helps secure $70 million for vital Minnesota projects

May 16, 2007

(Washington, D.C.) Senator Amy Klobuchar announced today that Minnesota could receive nearly $70 million in vital water infrastructure projects as part of the Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA), which passed the Senate today by a vote of 91-4. The bill authorizes funding for critical projects that help protect communities from flooding, enhances navigation along rivers, keeps water quality safe, and manages states' water resources.

"It's our responsibility to provide communities with clean drinking water and to protect our homes and businesses from flooding," said Klobuchar. "Today we took a significant step in making sure that we invest in infrastructure to keep communities strong and help them continue to grow."

Klobuchar's work on the Environment and Public Works Committee places her in a key position to secure funding for the following Minnesota projects authorized by the bill:

- $20 million for Wild Rice River Dam: Project to design and construct of a dam, three river miles east upstream from Twin Valley, MN on the Wild Rice River for flood mitigation.
- $15 million for Willmar waste water treatment plant: Would fund a new waste water treatment facility 5 ½ miles west of Willmar to support continued growth, replace failed equipment at the existing facility, and meet more stringent water quality objectives.
- $13.82 million for Roseau River Flood Mitigation: Project would design and construct a flood mitigation system for the city of Roseau. This plan consists of a 150-foot-wide east side diversion channel, three bridges, and a restriction bridge. This plan would remove nearly the entire city from the 100-year regulatory floodplain and would decrease stages upstream of Roseau to Malung.
- $9 million for Duluth Harbor: Project would fund navigational improvements, ecosystem restoration, and studies to determine causes of corrosion to port infrastructure and costs of repair.
- $5 million for Grand Rapids wastewater infrastructure reconstruction: Project that would support increased needs from the "Thunderhawk Project" (the addition of a new paper line at the Blandin Paper Plant), would replace old equipment and buildings, establish redundant systems, and more stringent water quality requirements.
- $4 million for Asian Carp Dispersal Barrier: Funds the design, construction, and operation of a barrier at Lock and Dam 11 to keep out invasive species.
- $3 million for Goodview Radium Project: Project would install a water treatment facility to remove naturally occurring Radium in the city water supply.
- $2 million for Central Lake Region: Funds a survey and design of a sewer system around Lobster Lake.
- Crow River Study: (no amount specified): Project commissions a study to determine the best method to reduce flood damage surrounding Rockford, MN.
- South Branch of the Wild Rice River (no amount specified): Project would develop upstream retention projects to enhance navigation improvements, flood damage reduction, and an ecosystem restoration plan for Borup, MN.
- Tower Harbor Project (no amount specified): Project for Tower, MN that would allow for dredging the East Two River to allow boat traffic into the harbor, construct a new bridge to allow boats to travel under Highway 169 into the harbor and construct public docking areas.

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