THE NATOMAS BUZZ | @natomasbuzz
Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui announced another victory for the Natomas Levee Improvement Project, which is slated to receive funding in the President Obamas’s 2017 budget request and in the Army Corps of Engineers’ 2016 work plan.
The President’s budget provides a path forward to allow the Army Corps of Engineers to begin constructing the federal portion of the Natomas Levee Improvement Project.
“Today is an important milestone in my ongoing efforts to strengthen Sacramento’s flood protection infrastructure,” said Congresswoman Matsui, D-CA. “The President’s FY2017 budget request reflects my continued work to ensure the Natomas Levee Improvement Project has full federal support, and today’s announcement puts us on the right path to completing this critical construction.
“We must build on this progress, and work together so that residents are as safe as possible given the potential for extreme weather in our region. I will continue to do everything I can in Congress to ensure that our region has the flood protection it needs and deserves.”
The Army Corps of Engineers’ 2016 work plan allocates $11 million to start construction of the Natomas project. The President’s 2017 Budget request includes $21.15 million to continue construction work on this project.
Specifically, the budget and Work Plan contain a combined $32.15 million for the Natomas Levee Improvement Project, a combined $25.74 million for the Folsom Dam Joint Federal Project, and $21.04 million for the Folsom Dam Raise.
“Strengthening Sacramento’s flood protection is one of my top priorities in Congress, and I have fought hard to dedicate the necessary federal resources to each and every component of our flood protection infrastructure,” said Matsui. “I am extremely pleased that the President’s budget and the 2016 Work Plan take a comprehensive approach to funding critical projects in the Sacramento region that I have consistently championed.
“We live at the confluence of two rivers, meaning that our work to invest in flood protection is ongoing. I will continue to do everything I can in Congress to build on today’s funding milestones, so that every Sacramentan is protected from catastrophic floods now and into the future.”
The Army Corps 2016 Work Plan implements the appropriations bill passed by Congress in December. The President’s budget request is the beginning of the fiscal year 2017 appropriations process. Funding levels for Sacramento’s flood protection projects are as follows:
Natomas Levee Work ($32.15M combined)
· $21.15M in fiscal year 2017 construction funds
· $11M in fiscal year 2016 Work Plan funds
Folsom Dam Joint Federal Project ($25.74M combined)
· $20.74M in fiscal year 2017 construction funds
· $5M in fiscal year 2016 Work Plan funds
Folsom Dam Raise
· $21.04M in fiscal year 2017 construction funds
Has to be passed by congress, don’t hold your breath.