Boswell Votes to Allocate More than $29 Million to Iowa in Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act

Washington, DC – October 1, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — Today, Congressman Leonard Boswell voted to secure $29,509,000 to fund flood prevention and management projects in Iowa when the House passed the Energy and Water Development Appropriations conference report.

“Last year’s floods devastated not only land in Iowa, but also local economies,” Boswell said. “I have fought for funding in the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act to restore habitats damaged by floodwaters and to make us better prepared to manage floods in the future in Iowa.”

The Energy and Water Development Appropriations conference report passed the House today by a bipartisan vote of 308-114.

The details of the projects funded are as follows:

Upper Mississippi River Restoration, U.S. Corps of Engineers: $16,470,000

This project provides a combination of monitoring, research, and habitat restoration activities. To date, the program has restored 83,000 acres of riverline and floodplain habitat with an additional 45,000 acres in development.

·      Upper Mississippi River System Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program, Corps of Engineers: $6,276,000

This project will construct 1,200-foot locks and smaller scale navigation improvements to address an 80-year gap in river infrastructure improvements while America looks toward more energy efficient, environmentally sustainable means of answering today’s transportation challenges.  Movement of Iowa’s bulk commodities by barges provide lower cost, environmentally sustainable transportation, enabling more efficient river transportation to thereby lessen dependence on trucks and rail through our communities.

·      Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers Project, City of Des Moines: $2,701,000

This project will reduce damages from flooding in the City of Des Moines by reconstructing the Birdland Park and Central Place levees.  In 2008, the Birdland levee failed and caused extensive damage to neighborhood buildings and homes.

·      Des Moines Recreational River and Greenbelt Initiative, City of Des Moines: $4,062,000

This project affects the central hub for the City of Des Moines city’s trail system and will create economic development and water-related recreational opportunities along the downtown riverfront.

·      Rathbun Lake (South Fork) Habitat Restoration, Iowa Department of Natural Resources: Funded as Available

This project provides more than 200 small ponds and wetlands to filter sediment from runoff prior to entering Rathbun Lake. Its benefits include increased wildlife habitat in the watershed, and improved habitat and water quality at Rathbun Lake.

·      Chariton River Watershed Study, Rathbun Rural Water Association: Funded as Available

This project provides local stakeholders with assistance from the US Army Corps of Engineers to assess resource needs in the Chariton River basin in Iowa and Missouri.  It is anticipated that these resource needs will be related to enhanced water supply, wildlife habitat restoration, flood damage reduction, and expanded recreational opportunities