Zoe Lofgren

26/06/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 27/06/2024 02:36

Lofgren Requested Water Resources Development Provisions Totaling $63M for CA 18 Advance in T&I Committee

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) passed H.R. 8812, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), a biannual authorization of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Civil Works Program, which included seven provisions requested by U.S. Representative Zoe Lofgren (CA-18).

"Proper water infrastructure - that prevents contamination and allows for clean drinking water - is a basic need in communities. As our country faces the effects of extreme heat, prolonged droughts and more severe storms, it is vital to make investments that improve resiliency and expand our water supply," said Lofgren. "The provisions included for our often-overlooked Central Coast communities will either improve water resources outright or set the stage for future upgrades. The T&I Committee's bipartisan vote today is an important first step, and I look forward to voting to advance this bill that is essential for California's 18th Congressional District on the House Floor."

CA-18 WRDA Projects - Topline

Local Provisions with Specified Funding Included

Note: WRDA authorizes specific projects, but Congress still must appropriate funding for the projects separately.

  • Watsonville Wastewater Treatment and Downtown Pipes Projects - $28 million
  • Salinas Industrial Wastewater Treatment Project - $20 million
  • San Juan Bautista Water Supply Project - $10 million
  • Hollister Downtown Water Line Replacement Project - $5 million

Local Studies and Language Changes Included

  • San Benito's Soap Lake Storage Improvements Feasibility Study
  • Salinas River Flood Risk Management Study
  • San Francisco Bay Area Comprehensive Sea Level Rise Study

CA-18 WRDA Provisions - Detailed

Provisions Authorizing Specific Local Projects

Note: WRDA authorizes specific projects, but Congress still must appropriate funding for the projects separately.

  • Watsonville Wastewater Treatment Plant and Downtown Pipes Projects - $28 million
    • The City of Watsonville will use federal funding to install new equipment at the wastewater treatment facility for solids treatment and beneficial biogas reuse. The equipment will enhance treatment for the City and its three partner sanitation districts (Pajaro, Salsipuedes, and Freedom) and allow the facility to continue being a net exporter of electricity. Additionally, the City of Watsonville's water and wastewater pipe infrastructure in the downtown area is 75+ years old and has been a significant impediment preventing the development of new affordable housing. The City will use federal funding to help expand and improve the pipe infrastructure to increase the system's capacity.
  • Salinas Industrial Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvements - $20 million
    • The City of Salinas will use the federal funding to make improvements to the Salinas Industrial Wastewater Treatment Facility and Conveyance System. This includes the installation of a new lift station, new electrical systems and backup power, new pond distribution systems to facilitate reuse, and making improvements to the aeration lagoon. The system provides cost-effective, efficient wastewater treatment for the indispensable agricultural industry in and around Salinas.
  • San Juan Bautista Water Supply Project - $10 million
    • The City of San Juan Bautista has struggled to provide safe drinking water because there is excessive groundwater salt content. The City will use the federal funding on a cost-effective solution that connects its water system to the nearby San Benito County Water District. The import of water will dilute the City's groundwater to have acceptable salt content levels.
  • Hollister Downtown Water Line Replacement Project - $5 million
    • The downtown area of the City of Hollister is currently served by old, brittle cast iron water pipes. These pipes have experienced frequent water main breaks, in part due to seismic activity from the nearby Calaveras fault. Additionally, the current water supply system does not meet fire code flow regulations. The federal funding will allow the City to replace the cast iron lines with modern PVC pipes to substantially improve the City's water distribution system.

Local Studies and Language Changes Included

  • San Benito's Soap Lake Storage Improvements Feasibility Study - Language Included
    • San Felipe (Soap) Lake in San Benito County is a seasonally-intermittent lake in the upper Pajaro River watershed. The lake, which fills during times of high rain, serves to regulate flows released into the Pajaro River. The Pajaro River has repeatedly flooded, most recently during the March 2023 atmospheric river storms. The study will examine the feasibility of increasing the detention and/or retention volume within Soap Lake for flood risk reduction downstream of the lake.
  • Salinas River Flood Risk Management Study - Language Included
    • The Salinas River in Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties, CA experienced significant flooding in the winter of 2023, causing hundreds of millions of dollars in damages and crop losses. While locally-led efforts to update the management of the river are ongoing, an Army Corps flood risk management and ecosystem restoration study for the river could provide options for or confirmations about what can be done to prevent future damages and crop losses.
  • San Francisco Bay Area Comprehensive Sea Level Rise Study - Language Included
    • The study will investigate what can be done to mitigate the impacts of sea level rise in the San Francisco Bay Area on nearby communities and infrastructure.

Recent, Related Lofgren Actions

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