Water Resources Development Act 2010

January 27, 2010

As your Congressman, the best opportunity to address flood control, navigation improvements, and watershed and aquatic ecosystem restoration in the 10th Congressional District, is through the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). WRDA is federal legislation that authorizes the US Army Corps of Engineers to participate in local and regional water resources projects around the country.

At the request of the local and regional agencies, I am submitting the following projects to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for inclusion in WRDA.

While each project is important, we must all be aware of the difficult fiscal environment, the desire of President Obama to reduce discretionary government spending and the overall need to cut the budget deficit.

Contra Costa Canal Levee Elimination

•    Local Sponsor: Contra Costa Water District
•    Project Purposes: Aquatic Plant Control, Flood damage reduction, Water Supply
•    Project Description: The project will eliminate eight miles of levees and replace the unlined portion of the federally-owned Contra Costa Canal with buried pipeline.

Pilot Program for Environmental Assistance

•    Local Sponsor: Delta County Coalition (Contra Costa, Solano, Yolo, Sacramento and San Joaquin Counties)
•    Project Purposes: Navigation, Environmental Protection and Restoration, Flood damage reduction, Hurricane and Storm Damage Reduction, Shoreline Protection, Water Supply, Recreation, Aquatic Plant Control, Environmental Infrastructure
•    Project Description: To establish a pilot program to provide environmental assistance to non-Federal interests

Regional Seismic Protection Upgrade

•    Local Sponsor: East Bay Municipal Utility District
•    Project Purposes: Environmental Infrastructure, Flood damage reduction, Water Supply
•    Project Description: Regional Seismic Protection Upgrade to address presence of active earthquake faults

Mokelumne Aqueduct Intertie

•    Local Sponsor: East Bay Municipal Utility District
•    Project Purposes: Environmental Infrastructure, Flood damage reduction, Hurricane and Storm Damage Reduction, Water Supply
•    Project Description: Mokelumne Aqueduct Intertie will allow for continuity of water supply to the region in the event damage due to natural disasters/levee failures

San Ramon Valley Recycled Water Project

•    Local Sponsor: East Bay Municipal Utility District
•    Project Purpose: Environmental Infrastructure
•    Project Description: The San Ramon Valley Recycled Water Project will provide a reliable alternative water supply to support water conservation within the Bay Area

Regional Approach to Flood Control
•    Local Sponsor: California Department of Water Resources
•    Project Purpose: Flood damage reduction
•    Project Description: This program would establish a regional approach to crediting for federal flood control and related projects affecting California’s Central Valley

Rheem Creek

•    Local Sponsor: Contra Costa County Flood Control & Water Conservation District
•    Project Purposes: Environmental Protection and Restoration, Flood damage reduction
•    Project Description: 1135 project authorization (Project Modifications for Improvement of the Environment) to transform Rheem Creek into a more sustainable facility
•    Authorization Amount Requested: 100,000

Rodeo Creek

•    Local Sponsor: Contra Costa County Flood Control & Water Conservation District
•    Project Purposes: Environmental Protection and Restoration, Flood damage reduction
•    Project Description: 1135 project authorization (Project Modifications for Improvement of the Environment) to transform Rodeo Creek into a more sustainable facility\
•    Authorization Amount Requested: 100,000

Marsh Creek Watershed

•    Local Sponsor: Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District
•    Project Purpose: Environmental Protection and Restoration
•    Project Description: Complete the planning process and authorize the Corps to cleanup of the Mt. Diablo mercury mine in Contra Costa County’s Marsh Creek Watershed
•    Authorization Amount Requested: 483,000