Hamilton Wetlands, Russian River and Bay Delta Model Among Projects Funded

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D-Petaluma) secured $23.095 million for Marin and Sonoma County environmental projects that includes $13 million for Hamilton Wetlands Restoration and $475,000 for restoration of the San Pablo Bay.  The funds were provided in the final version of H.R. 2419, the FY06 House Energy and Water Appropriations bill, reconciled by the U.S. House and U.S. Senate.  The bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives 399-17.   Final approval by the U.S. Senate is expected in the next few weeks, and then the bill will be sent to the President for signature.

“Ensuring that future generations will enjoy clean waters and bountiful wildlife is a top priority for California’s 6th Congressional District and me,” said Rep. Lynn Woolsey.  “This funding will move projects forward that restore salmon runs in our rivers and streams, continue the North Bay wetlands restoration effort, improve navigational safety and provide flood control for our communities."

“These projects are good for the North Bay economy and good for protecting the unique environment of the San Francisco Bay,” said Grant Davis, Executive Director of The Bay Institute.   “The Bay Institute has made them a priority but it has taken the committed leadership of Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey and the California Congressional Delegation to secure the necessary funding to protect fish and wildlife and keep these projects on track.

Continued Davis, “The Hamilton Wetlands Restoration Project is critical because we are preparing the site for dredge material in the coming year and this appropriation allows us to keep Hamilton on schedule with the Port of Oakland’s project.”

“The $300,000 in federal funding for Laguna de Santa Rosa is going to be critical in our local efforts to move that project forward,” said Sonoma County Supervisor Mike Reilly.  “We are very appreciative of Congresswoman Woolsey’s work in helping us accomplish this important project."

“The restoration of the wetlands at Hamilton and Bel Marin Keys will greatly improve the water and habitat quality of the San Pablo Bay region, add to the economic vitality of the region by helping the Port of Oakland’s capacity to handle larger ships, and fulfill the vision of the people of Marin seeking to return diked baylands back into valuable wetlands,” said Marin County Supervisor Cynthia Murray.  “The partnership of local, state and Federal agencies working together to achieve this dream has resulted in creating the largest wetlands restoration in Marin (2600 acres) and one of the largest in the North Bay.  This is definitely a proud moment for all of us.”

Project’s funded include:

· $13 million - Hamilton Wetlands Restoration:  To restore approximately 1,000 acres of wetlands using more than 10 million cubic yards of clean dredged material from various San Francisco Bay dredging projects, including the Port of Oakland.

· $1.067 million - San Francisco Bay Delta Model:  For operations and maintenance of this Bay Area educational tool located in Sausalito.

· $400,000  - Russian River Watershed Study:  To continue the operations of the citizen-led Russian River Watershed Council and to develop a comprehensive management plan for the watershed.

· $300,000 - Laguna de Santa Rosa:  To continue studies on sedimentation and watershed improvement so that the Laguna can be restored as both a flood control basin to protect lower Russian River communities, and rich wildlife habitat.

· $300,000 - Santa Rosa Creek Ecosystem Restoration:  Additional funds for the restoration of this important urban creek and tributary to the Russian River that serves as an important steelhead salmon passage.

· $100,000 - Corte Madera Creek flood control:  To continue planning of a flood control project on Corte Madera Creek protecting communities in Marin County.

· $150,000 - Bolinas Lagoon Ecosystem Restoration:  A joint effort with Marin County to determine if intervention is necessary or desirable to improve open water habitat in Bolinas Lagoon.

· $945,000 - Upper and lower Petaluma river dredging:  This dredging is performed every four years to maintain navigability and flood convergence capability for the river channel.  To dredge the river across the flats in San Pablo Bay to Western Avenue in Petaluma.

· $120,000 -- North Bay Agriculture Reuse:  The project would extend the existing Geysers pipeline North of Healdsburg along Highway 101.  This would expand agricultural irrigation opportunities while reducing the use of water from the Russian River for agricultural purposes by 707 million gallons per year.

Rep. Woolsey, with other Bay area Representatives, also secured funding for the following regional wetlands and agricultural projects:

· $5.825 million - Lake Sonoma / Warm Springs Dam:  For operation and maintenance of Warm Springs Dam at Lake Sonoma which provides the water supply for more than 500,000 residents of Sonoma and Marin County and to continue operations of a wild salmon captive brood fish hatchery critical to the restoration of salmon runs on the Russian River.

· $475,000 - San Pablo Bay Watershed Plan:  A major effort to restore wetlands in four counties along the San Pablo Bay.  This restoration will provide habitat for endangered species, including delta smelt, Chinook salmon, and the salt marsh harvest mouse.

· $125,000 - Napa-Sonoma Salt Marsh Restoration:  To continue planning for a project to transform salt marshes into wetlands wildlife habitat.