Huffman calls for funding for projects

November 02, 2015

Rep. Huffman Calls for Funding for Army Corps of Engineers Projects to Dredge Humboldt Bay, Protect Orick From Flooding

Washington, D.C. >> A recent press release announced that Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) last week called for full funding of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) projects across California’s North Coast, including dredging Humboldt Bay and a flood control project in Orick. In a letter sent yesterday, Huffman requested Shaun Donovan, Director of the Office of Management and Budget include these projects in the fiscal year 2016 work plan and fiscal year 2017 budget.

In the letter, Huffman called for the full funding of dredging in Humboldt Bay, noting that inadequate funding results in insufficient dredging, increasing the chance of collisions, and causing higher costs for consumers.

Huffman wrote, “Since Humboldt Bay is also a harbor of refuge — the only deep-water port between San Francisco and Coos Bay — its operation is also vital to marine safety… [and] consistent maintenance dredging is needed to keep the harbor entrance safe for transit for commercial and recreational vessels. I also ask for your continued engagement in supporting dredging and addressing the disposal and use of dredged materials in Noyo Harbor.”

Huffman also called on Donovan to ensure full funding for a flood control project along Redwood Creek in Orick, built to protect the town after the disastrous 1964 flood. Huffman noted that the levies are not adequate and “despite tens of millions of dollars in restoration work done by the federal government upstream, the National Marine Fisheries Service has issued a draft jeopardy opinion on the project, which may further reduce the county’s ability to remove gravel from the project area. I urge inclusion of the associated costs of leading on this project in the USACE’s budget.”


Source: by Susan Gardner