$180 Million for State Water Projects in Compromise Bill

House and Senate negotiators have agreed to spend more than $180 million next year on construction of key California water projects, including $16.2 million to complete a flood-control project along the San Luis Rey River in Oceanside.

The accord on a $22-billion appropriations bill for energy and water projects also calls for spending more than $35 million for work on the federally owned Central Valley Project, much of it for environmental improvements. The extensive system of dams and canals supplies about 20% of the state’s water for agriculture, homes and businesses.

In addition to construction money, the budget agreement would provide $73 million to operate and maintain California’s existing flood control, navigation and other water projects, and more than $25 million for studies and planning.

A report detailing the energy and water appropriations for the 1993 fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, was made public Wednesday.

The compromise legislation is all but sure to win final congressional approval, perhaps as early as this week, and appears likely to be signed by President Bush. The energy and water agreement calls for spending about $413 million less than the President requested in his budget message last January. The bill includes $517 million for the giant Texas-based atom smasher, the superconducting super collider, which is strongly supported by the White House.

California lawmakers said they were pleased with the accord.

“California won in this appropriations process,” said Republican Sen. John Seymour. “Our rivers, harbors, flood control projects, labs and fish and wildlife resources will all receive the federal assistance they need.”

Sen. Alan Cranston, a Democrat, said he was particularly pleased that the legislation includes millions to improve fish and wildlife habitats, especially along the Trinity River, which, Cranston said, “has been devastated by erosion.”

The $16.2 million slated for the 7-mile San Luis Rey River flood-control project would allow the program to be completed on time in September, 1994. The project, which is entering its fourth and final phase of construction, is expected to have a total cost of $62.9 million.

Dana Whitson, Oceanside’s deputy city manager, said the completed flood control would protect the more than 4,000 homes and 100 businesses in the flood plain of the San Luis Rey River Valley.

“A lot of people pay flood insurance premiums in the valley,” Whitson said. “When the project is built, they’ll be relieved of that $300 or so they are paying a year.”

The flood control project, which extends from the river at College Avenue west to the Pacific, also requires wetland habitat creation and will include a bike path.

Included in the money for the Central Valley Project is $10.3 million for the Trinity River restoration program, $10.5 million for a diversion dam and other work on the Sacramento River to help restore its fish population and $4.4 million to protect the Suisun Marsh in the Sacramento River Delta.

Larry Devick, chief of the Army Corps of Engineers’ programs division, noted that the House-Senate compromise includes about $130 million more for corps programs than requested by the President.

The lion’s share of California money will go to the Santa Ana River project, the largest flood control program in the nation, which ultimately is expected to cost $1.5 billion. The federal government would pay about two-thirds of the cost.

The Corps of Engineers has identified the Santa Ana River as the greatest flood threat west of the Mississippi.

In Los Angeles County, the bill would provide nearly $5 million in operating funds for flood control and drainage projects, and another $3.1 million to study flood control improvements.

Other construction funds included in the bill:

* $10 million for channel work and fish and wildlife habitat improvements along 2.5 miles of the Guadalupe River in Santa Clara County.

* $9.1 million for flood control basins and reservoirs on Redbank and Francher creeks, and enlargement of a dam on Big Dry Creek in Fresno County.

* $3.2 million for dredging 7.5 miles of ship channels in Oakland Harbor to a depth of 42 feet.

Times staff writer Jonathan Gaw in Vista contributed to this report.