Congress Approves Funds for Local Fire, Flood Safety Projects

Congress has approved a bill that includes $10.3 million for Ventura County projects that would reduce flooding threats, fight fires and enhance the environment.

The Senate approved the money Tuesday as part of the Energy and Water Appropriations Act for the federal fiscal year that begins today. The House of Representative passed the bill Monday.

In addition, Congress passed a Department of Defense appropriations bill that contains $6 million to replace up to four of 12 aging airplanes used to fight wildfires in the county and across the state, said Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley).

“I am pleased Congress has agreed to help finance critical flood-control, dredging and firefighting-preparedness projects in Ventura County,” he said. “The funds will considerably enhance our ability to protect residents and businesses from fires and floods.”

The energy and water appropriations bill includes money for five ongoing projects in the county:

* $4 million for the Santa Paula Creek Flood Control Project, intended to reduce the risk of flooding for much of the city.

* $3.25 million to maintain and dredge Oxnard’s Channel Islands Harbor and use the sand to replenish Port Hueneme beaches.

* $2.7 million to dredge Ventura’s harbor entrance.

* $250,000 for a feasibility study examining methods of pumping sand out of harbors and thereby reducing the need for the annual dredging.

* $100,000 to study the environmental effect of the 240 million tons of sediment that wash into Mugu Lagoon each year and find alternatives for restoring what is Southern California’s largest remaining salt marsh.

The Ventura Port District must come up with about $80,000 to help pay for the study that will explore the economic benefits of a series of pumps to siphon sand from one place to another and reduce the costly annual dredging that Congress funds every year, said Ed Wohlenberg, general manager.

“Within a 12-month cycle, our depths are such that we have to have it dredged in order to maintain a safe navigation in and out of the harbor,” he said. “The whole hope is that there’s a structure to be built to deposit sand across the channel so that we only have to dredge every other year.”