Icymi: Manchin Secures West Virginia Priorities In Water Resources Development Act

Icymi: Manchin Secures West Virginia Priorities In Water Resources Development Act

Charleston, WV - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (I-WV) secured a number of West Virginia priorities that he fought for in the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024, which unanimously passed the U.S. Senate last week. WRDA is biennial legislation that authorizes flood control, navigation and ecosystem restoration projects for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) in West Virginia and across the country.

"I am thrilled that the Senate unanimously passed the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Actof 2024, which contains many exciting wins for West Virginia. The projects in this critical legislation will upgrade our water and wastewater infrastructure, develop new energy technologies and boost conservation efforts, among other important West Virginia priorities, all of which will create new jobs, strengthen our tourism economy and drive innovation. I'm proud to have fought hard to deliver for the Mountain State in this package and I will continue doing everything I can to see it across the finish line and signed into law," said Senator Manchin.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed its WRDA legislation in July and now the two bills will begin the conference process to resolve its differences.

West Virginia priorities championed by Senator Manchin include:

• Keeping West Virginia Projects Moving Forward: Directs the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to prioritize and expedite essential studies and projects in Milton, West Virginia; the Upper Guyandotte and Kanawha River Basins; and at the Bluestone Dam in Hinton, West Virginia, with a focus on flood control and dam safety.
• Enhancing Water Infrastructure: Increases funding for the Corps' Section 340 and Section 571 programs, which support drinking water and wastewater projects in West Virginia, and updates cost-sharing mechanisms to assist local communities.
• Securing Flood Cost-Sharing Adjustment for Kanawha River Basin: Revises the cost-sharing structure for future flood management projects in West Virginia, based on the Kanawha River Basin study, to help regions affected by past flooding.
• Strengthening Community Engagement and Research: Enhances the Corps' educational outreach on water resource issues and expands research partnerships with West Virginia University to tackle water challenges.
• Creating New Initiative for Acid Mine Drainage: Establishes a new program enabling the Corps to collaborate with West Virginia communities to rehabilitate rivers and streams impacted by acid mine drainage.
• Increasing Budget for Emergency Projects: Increases the maximum funding available to the Corps for small-scale emergency interventions, including debris removal, shoreline protection, and streambank stabilization.
• Updating Payment Framework: Revamps the Corps' payment system to better meet the diverse needs of communities both within West Virginia and nationwide.