Congressman John Garamendi Praises Inclusion of Funding for Feather River West Levee Project in USACE Work Plan

WASHINGTON, DC- Today, Congressman John Garamendi (D-Fairfield, Davis, Yuba City), a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Water Resources Subcommittee, whose district includes 782 miles of levees, praised the inclusion of a "new start" designation and $50 million in funding to complete the last five miles of the Feather River West Levee project in the Fiscal Year 2018 Work Plan of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This five-mile stretch of the levee required emergency repairs during the high-water event following the spillway failure at the Oroville Dam.

"Completion of the Feather River West Levee project is crucial for public safety in the Yuba-Sutter area," said Garamendi. "The communities in the Yuba-Sutter region remember the devastation that occurred decades ago because of inadequate flood control, and completion of the Feather River West Levee project will ensure that such a calamity never happens again."

"For years, I have worked hand in hand with the Sutter-Butte Flood Control Agency and my colleague and neighbor Doug LaMalfa to advance this project. Today's announcement highlights the positive outcomes that occur when state, local and federal partners combine efforts to enhance flood protection."

"Over the weekend Congressman Garamendi joined us on Shanghai Bend to celebrate the hard work our community has done to strengthen our levees. With today's announcement from the US Army Corps of Engineers we have another reason to celebrate. We cannot thank the Congressman enough for the leadership he has provided in securing a federal investment to complete this project. On behalf of the Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency, thank you Congressman for delivering a big win for our region."Said Steve Lambert, Board Chair of the Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency.

The Feather River West Levee project was authorized in the Water Resources Reform and Redevelopment Act of 2014, which was the first of three water resources bills that Garamendi has helped author as a member of the Committee. In the most recent Water Resources Development Bill, H.R. 8, passed by the House last week, Garamendi secured the following provisions:

• Language to expedite completion of the Lower Cache Creek Feasibility Study, which will provide greater flood protection for the City of Woodland;
• Language to allow the Three Rivers Levee Improvement Authority to construct three miles of levee on the Yuba River in the Yuba Goldfields;
• Reauthorization of the National Levee Safety Initiative, which provides funding to map non-federal levees across the nation;
• Language that makes it easier for the Army Corps to construct more environmentally friendly setback levees where appropriate.

In addition to the projects in H.R 8 and the Feather River West Levee project, Garamendi has advanced critical Third District flood control projects since coming to Congress, including the Hamilton City Project, the Marysville Ring Levee, the West Sacramento Project, the Yuba River Ecosystem Restoration Study, Natomas Basin Levee Project, the Cache Creek Settling Basin.