House OKs $7 Million for Flood Control

The U.S. House of Representatives approved $7.1 million in funding Tuesday for a wide range of Ventura County projects aimed at reducing the potential for major flood and storm damage to coastal communities.

“These projects are critical to a county that has suffered two federally declared flood and winter storm disasters in the past year,” said Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley).

The largest project that would be funded by the appropriation, which still requires Senate approval, includes a $2.3-million flood control channel in Santa Paula. The channel would be up to three miles long and would help protect Santa Paula’s historic downtown and about 4,000 nearby homes from flood damage, said Michael Wootten, Gallegly’s chief of staff.

In addition, the Port Hueneme Water Agency would receive $1 million to construct a water reclamation facility that would produce 4 million gallons of water per day for several coastal communities as well as the Navy bases at Port Hueneme and Point Mugu. Another $890,000 would be used to dredge and maintain the Channel Islands Harbor.

Other money would be used for a study on the possible deepening of the Port Hueneme Harbor to accommodate larger vessels, and another study that would identify ways to reduce potential storm damage along Ventura’s coast as well as at the two Navy bases.

Wootten said that the Senate is expected to approve the appropriations within the next few days, before sending the legislation to President Clinton for his signature.