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Garamendi, Thompson Urge Army Corps to Provide Funds for Middle Creek Project in Lake County

October 9, 2019

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congressmen John Garamendi (D-CA03) and Mike Thompson (D-CA05) urged the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to dedicate disaster-recovery funds provided by Congress to the Middle Creek Flood Damage Reduction and Ecosystem Restoration Project in Lake County.

In February 2018, local lawmakers secured $15 million in state funding to help meet the non-federal cost share for the project. Congress authorized the project in the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-114). Garamendi and Thompson are urging the Army Corps to build off this work and dedicate new funds to the project to support Lake County.

"The Middle Creek Project is critically important to help Lake County recover from recent disasters," Garamendi said. "The project would restore 1,600 acres of crucial wetland habitat and improve precious ecosystems and water quality in Clear Lake—the second largest natural lake in California and a vital component of Lake County's economy. The Army Corps must dedicate all available federal funding to this project, and I continue working with Congressman Thompson to ensure Lake County has the resources needed to recover from these devastating fire seasons."

"As Lake County continues to recover, it's critical that we work to bring back every federal dollar and resource to bear on that effort. That's why I joined with Rep. Garamendi in asking the Army Corps to consider the county's request to dedicate funding to the Middle Creek Flood Damage Reduction and Ecosystem Restoration Project. This is a critical project that will help restore local wetlands and improve water quality, and I will continue doing everything I can to assist with this and all recovery efforts," said Thompson.

A copy of the letter Congressmen Garamendi and Thompson sent to the Army Corps can be viewed here. Garamendi will tour the Middle Creek Flood Damage Reduction and Ecosystem Restoration Project site on October 20th with local officials.