Creek-study money back in budget
By Jason Green
Knight Ridder
Thursday, June 8, 2006
Half the money needed to continue a study of San Francisquito Creek flood-control measures is back in the 2007 federal budget, but local officials aren't celebrating yet.The $225,000 earmark was added into the House of Representatives' recently approved Energy and Water Appropriations bill. But it's just the beginning of a long process that ends at the president's desk.
``This is a significant development, but it's only the first step,'' said Cynthia D'Agosta, executive director of the San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority, the body formed by Palo Alto, Menlo Park and East Palo Alto to coordinate flood-control efforts for the creek.
Local officials were disappointed, though hardly shocked, when the president left the original $450,000 request out of his proposed budget. The Army Corps of Engineers needs that money to continue a feasibility study of flood control measures into 2007.
The president's move placed in limbo the authority's long-range effort to protect thousands of local homes and businesses in the San Francisquito Creek and San Francisco Bay flood zones.
The creek caused $28 million in reported damage the last time it overflowed in 1998. Heavy rains and high tides nearly caused it to flood again on the eve of 2006.
Spearheading the effort to put the study's funding back into the federal budget was Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto.
Without the full amount, the study could take much longer to complete, D'Agosta said. When the authority and the Army Corps of Engineers signed a feasibility study cost-share agreement last fall, the study was expected to take three to five years.
The study, which includes habitat restoration measures, began in April.
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