Congressman McNerney Announces Passage Of Vital Water Resources Legislation
Oct 24, 2013
Press Release
Washington, D.C. – Late last night, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3080, the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2013 (WRRDA), by a bipartisan vote of 417-3. WRRDA authorizes projects and studies for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) civil works program and sets new policies and procedures for the Corps. These projects include flood risk management projects (levees, dams), environmental restoration projects (wetlands restoration, shoreline restoration), navigation projects (harbor dredging, river locks), and recreation projects (trails, lakes, camping, etc.).
“I am glad that we were able to come together to pass WRRDA, a bill that is vital for improving flood protection and investing in the future of our water resources. This is exactly the kind of bipartisan legislation that is critical for our country, and I was proud to vote for a bill that will help the farmers and producers in our region,” said Rep. McNerney.
Earlier this year, Congressman McNerney noticed a flaw in the working draft of WRRDA and wrote to the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to correct it. The San Joaquin Area Flood Control Agency (SJAFCA) was authorized as a non-Federal sponsor for the Stockton metropolitan area flood control project. The working draft of WRRDA would have prevented SJAFCA from any further federal reimbursements for the federal share of the project. The committee heeded McNerney’s request, ensuring that SJAFCA will continue to be eligible for reimbursements.
“This project was vital for Stockton, San Joaquin County, and our entire area. The version of the bill that passed the House last night will ensure that Stockton remains eligible to receive reimbursements for the work done on the flood control project,” said Rep. McNerney.
Overall, WRRDA authorizes projects that are vital to maintaining water resources, mitigating flood risk and restoration efforts. For example:
- California has a major problem with aquatic invasive species and aquatic invasive plants. These include quagga mussels, shore crab, and certain algae. They clog water delivery systems, contaminate the water supply and destroy habitats. WRRDA includes language that would allow the Corps to include invasive species such as water hyacinth management as a part of a Corps project.
- Many state and local agencies in California would like to sponsor Corps projects for water supply, recreation, and other uses. They have been challenged in the past because the Corps was limited to performing projects with their own money. There are multiple sections in this bill that allow local and state agencies to pay for Corps projects in order to provide a local benefit.
- Section 130 of WRRDA requires the Corps to issue a report on practices, priorities, and authorized purposes at Corps of Engineers reservoirs in arid regions of the United States and their effect on water supply during times of drought, a critical issue in California.
- The bill allows non-federal entities to conduct a wide variety of water resources development projects, as long as the Corps approves the plans, the project is specifically authorized by Congress and an environmental impact statement has been filed. The measure also allows non-federal interests to contribute funds for any authorized water resources development study or project that the corps deems is in the public interest, for federally declared disaster areas, for the management of water resources managed by the Corps and for projects that have exceeded their maximum costs.