Water Project Authorizations Reported Out of Committee

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Pete Visclosky has received committee approval for provisions in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) for 2002 that will authorize $239,446,000 in federal spending on five water projects in Northwest Indiana.

The new language, reported out of the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, authorizes $186,300,000 in spending for the Little Calumet River flood control project; $23,146,000 for the Cady Marsh Ditch flood control project; and $30 million for sewer technical planning, design assistance, and construction.  It also authorizes a modification to credit the City of Hammond for work already done toward ecosystem restoration at Wolf Lake; and a waiver of cost-sharing requirements for ecosystem restoration at Long Lake.  WRDA now goes before the full House of Representatives for passage.

In the case of the Little Calumet River and Cady Marsh Ditch flood-control projects, current estimated project costs exceed the original limits, and if not adjusted, they could delay vital flood protection in the communities along the Little Calumet.

“Both the Little Calumet River and Cady Marsh Ditch projects are of the utmost importance to protect Northwest Indiana residents from flooding,” Visclosky said.  “These additional authorizations will help guard residents from life-threatening floods and costly property damage.”

The increased authorization for sewer technical planning, design assistance, and construction adds on to $10 million authorized in WRDA in 1998 for non-federal interests requiring infrastructure needs in the First Congressional District.  Funding will go to upgrade sewer systems that are at or beyond their service lives of 40-50 years; sewers of that age often have reduced flow capacity and cave-ins that lead to overflows.  The additional authorization reflects redistricting, which more than doubled the geographical size of the district, and will be used in Lake, Porter, Jasper, Newton, and Benton counties.

The modifications for Wolf Lake would credit the City of Hammond for work already done on the site.  Due to the fact that necessary legal agreements have not been finalized, the city can not receive credit without these adjustments.

Work at Wolf Lake will help reduce excessive exotic plant growth, renew diversity of plant and fish species, deepen the lake, restore water quality and aquatic habitat, and mitigate contaminants.  Work at Long Lake will also involve restoration of the natural ecosystem, which was altered with the construction of U.S. 12.

“The funding authorization included today in the WRDA bill will help protect homes and renew the environment,” Visclosky said.  “These are both important goals that will help improve the quality of life for all Northwest Indiana residents.”