WASHINGTON, DC - After three years of fighting on behalf of urban watershed restoration on Capitol Hill, Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D-Petaluma) has secured federal assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for projects that could include the Prince Memorial Greenway. The provision is part of the U.S. House Agricultural Appropriations bill that was passed earlier this week.

“By passing this bill, the House has opened the door to funding a number of creek restoration projects, including the City of Santa Rosa’s Prince Memorial Greenway, said Rep. Woolsey.

“Funding for the Prince Memorial Greenway Project will help the city’s efforts to restore natural habitat and protect threatened species, while also promoting bike transportation and helping to revitalize downtown Santa Rosa,” said Rep. Woolsey. “This is an urban creek project that will continue to be a national model for other communities to follow.”

“Rep. Woolsey’s hard work on behalf of the City of Santa Rosa will ensure that the Prince Greenway project gets done,” said Santa Rosa Mayor, Sharon Wright.

“This is great news for Santa Rosa and for Sonoma County,” said Jeff Kolin, General Manager of Santa Rosa. “The Prince Greenway has been one of our key projects for creek restoration in downtown Santa Rosa and the language in the agricultural appropriations bill will help us move much more quickly.”

The appropriations bill provides that the USDA’s Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS) gives “technical and financial assistance” to the Central Sonoma Watershed project, a long dormant flood control project that can now also provide wildlife benefits. The NRCS’s work plan for the project includes coordinating with local groups to address fish and wildlife habitat and begin planning flood management and environmental restoration projects in the watershed to address erosion, sedimentation, water quality, wetlands protection and nutrient management.

The Prince Memorial Greenway Project is a major creek restoration project located in the heart of the City of Santa Rosa. The project will restore creek habitat by recreating a more natural flow to the creek and reintroducing native plants to save threatened species that include Steelhead Trout, red legged frog, the western pond turtle, and river otter. The project will also include bike and walking paths to provide safe routes for school children, bike enthusiasts and pedestrians; educational opportunities for children to learn about the environment and the project will be part of revitalizing downtown Santa Rosa and Railroad Square by providing economic development and increasing tourism.

The listing of the Central Sonoma Watershed Project in the House Agricultural Appropriations bill is in addition to the $34 million Reps. Woolsey and Thompson secured to combat Pierce’s Disease and the $3.2 million Rep. Woolsey to fight Sudden Oak Death. After the Senate version of the Agricultural Appropriations bill is passed, the two bills will be reconciled in conference committee before a final version is approved.