Press Releases

Tuesday, March 20, 2007                                                                                      

Today, Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui announced that Sacramento will receive over $110 million dollars in FY07 funding for Flood Protection and other Army Corps of Engineers related projects. 

"This is important funding for Sacramento and our region," said Matsui. "We have made enormous progress on the work to our levees and flood protection infrastructure this past year."

Because Congress did not pass a majority of their appropriation bills before the mid term elections last November, Congressional Leadership declared a continuing resolution for the entire year.  The decision left the future of many flood protection projects in doubt. Today's announcement puts some definition on the Army Corps budget priorities in Sacramento as well as across the country. 

Matsui, who has made flood protection her number one priority since being elected to Congress, worked closely with Administration officials, including Assistant Secretary of Civil Works John Paul Woodley, in securing the funding. 

"Sacramento flood protection is an on-going process.  We cannot take a year off from funding these important projects.  It is important that we have consistent funding at responsible levels.  I made that clear to the Corps in my discussions with them," Matsui said.

Funding highlights from the CR include:

• $12.5 million for South Sacramento County Streams, which when finished will provide at least 100-year protection to over 100,000 residents and property valued at over $7 billion.
• $76.6 million for American River Watershed projects, including $48.7 million for building a new bridge below Folsom Dam.  Widespread flooding along the American River would cover approximately 86 square miles of the developed Sacramento area, affecting 330,000 people and $16 billion in property.  These improvements will provide 200-year flood protection.
• $21 million for the Sacramento River Bank Protection project.  The latest report from the Corps identified almost 200 erosion sites in need of repair.  1 million acres and 2.3 million Californians are protected by these levees.

"Securing this funding puts FY 07 behind us and allows us to focus on the work we need to do for FY 08," Matsui said.

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