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Woolsey Secures House Approval for $21 Million for Sonoma & Marin Water & Energy Projects

WASHINGTON, DC¬—Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D-Petaluma) has secured House approval for $21,520,000 for water and energy projects across Marin and Sonoma counties.

The funding is included in the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, which the House passed on Thursday by a vote of 308-114.

Marin’s Hamilton Airfield Wetlands is set to receive the most funding--$14.25 million. The money will be used to help restore the former airfield’s wetlands using clean dredged sediment from San Francisco Bay.

“The Hamilton Airfield Wetlands, a historic tidal marsh, is being restored from a shuttered military airfield to a rich wetland environment,” said Woolsey. “This project contributes to the national priority of wetland restoration, is an asset to residents and the tourist economy, and will help create local jobs.”

Woolsey also secured $4,884,000 to continue the operation and maintenance of Dry Creek Dam in Sonoma County and to improve coho salmon and steelhead trout hatcheries there.

Woolsey procured funding for two flood control projects. The Petaluma River Flood Control project is set to get $727,000 to dredge the Petaluma River channel and to complete floodwall projects. The bill also provides $472,000 to complete a feasibility study for the Corte Madera Creek Flood Control Project in Marin County.

In addition, Woolsey got $90,000 to fund a U.S. Army Corps review of the locally preferred ecosystem restoration plan for Bolinas Lagoon in Marin County.

With Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-Carlsbad), Woolsey procured $897,000 for the Coastal Data Information Program’s field research on California beaches.

And, finally, Woolsey and Rep. Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) secured $200,000 for the North Bay Water Reuse Project, which will reduce effluent discharges into San Francisco Bay and provide treated recycled water for wetland restoration and agricultural use.

The energy and water bill heads next to the full Senate and, if passed, on to the President’s office to be signed into law.