July 29, 2022 - WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Thursday, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, applauded the Senate passage of the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2022 (WRDA 2022). The legislation includes several provisions championed by Padilla to authorize the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ civil works activities, including flood control and dam safety, navigation, and ecosystem restoration throughout California and across the country.

“Now more than ever, Californians depend on reliable water infrastructure for nearly every aspect of their lives,” said Senator Padilla. “I’m proud to have secured investments for California as we look to protect communities from the consequences of climate change, while maintaining our position as an economic hub in the country and across the world. Our investments today will improve the resiliency of our communities and quality of life for future generations.”

Key Padilla provisions included in the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 would help regions throughout California. The bill will protect communities from damaging flood events and rising sea levels by:

• Constructing coastal levees and restoring tidal marsh habitat to protect residents and businesses along the South San Francisco Bay Shoreline;
• Constructing and modernizing levees along the American River and Lower San Joaquin River;
• Improving and constructing new levees along the Lower Cache Creek to protect schools, utilities, and communities along the I-5 in Yolo County;
• Preventing coastal flooding in high seismic hazard areas including the Port of San Francisco.

Support environmental infrastructure and ecosystem projects across the state by:

• Authorizing environmental infrastructure projects in Alameda, Calaveras, Los Angeles, Placer, and Yolo counties;
• Restoring more than 600 acres of habitat along the Santa Ana River and protecting groundwater water within San Bernardino, Riverside, and Orange counties within the Prado Basin.
• Supporting the planning, design, and construction of urban stormwater treatment facilities, watershed science, and environmental restoration in Lake Tahoe.

Improve the operation, maintenance, and safety of waterways by:

• Directing the Corps to expedite completion of the Los Angeles County Drainage Area Disposition Study;
• Improving navigation and safety for existing and prospective commerce at the Port of Long Beach.

WRDA 2022 would authorize much-needed investments in the projects and programs of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers across the country. For the first time since 2007, the bill authorizes new environmental infrastructure projects and modifies existing authorizations. It also directs the Corps to expedite the completion of several ongoing studies and projects that are critical to addressing coastal and inland flood risk mitigation, navigation, and ecosystem restoration.

The Senate will now reconcile its version of the legislation with its House-passed counterpart before the final bill can be signed into law by the President.

For bill text of WRDA 2022, click here.

For a bill summary of WRDA 2022, click here.
Source: Senator Alex Padilla