WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Brian Baird, D-Wash., announced Friday that the federal fiscal year 2002 Energy and Water Appropriations conference report includes critical projects for Southwest Washington.
The bill included $1 million for the Centralia Flood Control project and $250,000 to conduct the Chehalis River Basin Flood Study. It now awaits the president's signature before becoming law.
"I'm pleased that these projects will receive well deserved funding," said the Democrat. "Securing the funding necessary to move forward on the Centralia Flood Control Project and to find ways to prevent flood damage within the Chehalis River Basin are two important projects, and I'll continue to work hard for local projects that will benefit our local community."
Earlier this year, the measure cleared the House of Representatives.
"This project is important to the entire region, not just Lewis County. When the 1-5 corridor floods, the flow of commerce from Seattle and Tacoma down to Portland halts and causes major economic losses to many different industries. We need to ensure that this critical transportation route is secure," Baird said.
Last year's appropriations bill included $500,000 for the Centralia Flood Control Project and $150,000 for the Chehalis River Basin Flood Study.
According to Baird, the two projects, which complement each other, are important for finding solutions to the chronic flooding problems throughout the Chehalis River Basin. In the past, Interstate 5 has flooded in the Twin Cities, causing the highway to be closed. It is estimated that such closures result in economic losses to the region of more than $50 million per day.
"The funding will be used to determine the next step for this important project, and it brings us closer to a construction phase," said Baird.
"The Centralia Flood Control Project would focus primarily on developing a comprehensive and cost-effective strategy to reduce flooding on the most problematic and chronic flood areas," he said. "Additionally, the Chehalis River Basin study would identify flooding problems in a larger geographic area and propose potential solutions and opportunities for watershed restoration. Both projects will aid local business in their efforts to create a comprehensive solution to the chronic flooding problems.
"Our ability to develop meaningful long-term strategies to deal with the flooding from the Chehalis, Newaukum and Skookumchuck rivers is of critical importance to this part of Southwest Washington," said Baird. "Flooding can be disastrous to a community and, although we can never control Mother Nature, we can work to improve areas that are flood prone. This is important to our families, our businesses, and public safety."
The bill passed in the House 399-29.
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