LAKE COUNTY — Work on a 1,600-acre ecosystem restoration project in Upper Lake moved one step closer to starting Thursday when the Senate voted to override a presidential veto. The vote overturned the veto of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). Now law, the act authorizes the project and funds 65 percent of the approximate $46 million price tag.
Among hundreds of projects across the country, WRDA authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to design and construct the Middle Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project in Upper Lake. The 1,600-acre project south of the confluence of Scotts and Middle creeks will restore 1,200 acres of wetlands and 500 acres of floodplain in the area. The project includes 57 percent of Clear Lake”s watershed.
Plans include raising about half a mile of Highway 20 east of Reclamation Road to the 100-year flood level, raising the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff east of the Rodman Slough bridge to the 100-year flood level, reinforcing metal PG&E utility towers in the area and creating gaps in the dilapidated levee system.
Public Works deputy director Bob Lossius said “What we”re talking about is appropriations for federal money, and that”s only 65 percent of the cost,” Lossius said. “We have to come up with about a 35 percent match.” Lossius said there is approximately $400,000 in the county”s budget for a match.
Lossius said the county signed an agreement on plans for the project with the Army Corps of Engineers three years ago. “Once the federal government appropriates money for the federal side, which will fund the Corps so they can start discussions on what to do next, likely we”ll have to re-evaluate the agreement we signed since it was so long ago,” Lossius said.
Lossius said the next step is to apply for between $2 million and $3 million needed for the design phase of the project. He said it is “unlikely” the county will see any money for the project this year. “We”ll have to seek appropriation in next year”s appropriations bills,” Lossius said.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
