By JAY GOETTING, Register Staff Writer
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Half a loaf is better than none, but a slowdown in federal funding for Napa's flood control project could mean a delayed completion date.
The county requested $24 million for its project this fiscal year, but ended up with $12 million following congressional action Wednesday.
When representatives of the Napa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District went back to Washington, D.C. in September to lobby for federal money for the quarter-billion dollar flood plan, they were hoping to get the full amount they asked for in 2006. But they seem pleased with the results Wednesday.
"That's a big yahoo," said Napa Mayor Jill Techel who chairs the flood control board. "We heard all kinds of different stories about what (the varying amounts) might mean."
When the $24 million request first went to Bush administration officials, it was whittled to $6 million. Congress bumped it back up to $16 million, and then proceeded to a conference committee to work out a compromise amount.
Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, was able to secure the $12 million.
"Napa's project serves as a model for flood control efforts nationwide," Thompson said. "Federal funding was hard to come by this year. The fact that the Napa Valley Flood Control Project was allocated $12 million is a testament to the success of the program."
Thompson worked closely with Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer to move the allocation through the process. He specifically thanked Feinstein for fighting for the funding in the Senate.
Techel was in the contingent that traveled to the nation's capitol. "We came out very well," she said. "It speaks well for how our project is considered by others around the nation."
Techel said the budgeted amount keeps alive the prospect that the flood project will wrap up in 2011. However, flood control officials have said in the past that failure to get full appropriations each year might push back the completion date.
Meanwhile, the state is approximately $51 million behind in expected contributions to the project, according to flood control officials.
Local funds for the project come from a half-cent sales tax passed by voters in 1998.
Thompson noted that severe floods that have struck Napa over the years have affected countless businesses and residences and caused millions in damage.
Following House passage of the 2006 Energy and Water Appropriations Act Conference Report, the Senate is expected to follow suit today. The president is expected to sign it shortly afterward.
In addition, Thompson was able to secure funding for several smaller but significant Napa area water projects, including $125,000 for Napa River Salt Marsh Restoration, $600,000 for St. Helena's Napa River Restoration Project, $350,000 for St. Helena's York Creek Dam Removal Project, $625,000 for Napa River Shallow Draft Dredging, $125,000 for the Napa-Sonoma-Marin Agriculture Reuse Project and $475,000 for the San Pablo Bay Watershed Restoration Project.
http://www.napavalleyregister.com/articles/2005/11/10/news/local/iq_3161434.txt