[2] Stimulus Spending Gives Hydro BiOp A Big Boost
The Corps of Engineers will replace barbecue grills at parks near federal dams, fix habitat in the lower Columbia, and dredge more of the shipping channel between The Dalles and Vancouver, Wash., as part of the $4.6-billion windfall in spending created by the Federal economic stimulus package.
The Corps' list of civil works projects, released April 28, includes about $2 billion for operation and maintenance, another $2 billion for construction, and most of the rest for the Mississippi River and its tributaries.
John Paul Woodley Jr., assistant secretary of the Army for Civil Works, said the stimulus bill would enable the Corps of Engineers to do much good for the nation.
"In addition to the opportunity to help the nation and her citizens recover from this time of economic hardship," he said, "the Corps will be able to use these funds to accomplish work on water resources projects that will benefit the nation for years to come."
According to information from the Corps' Walla Walla District, that division will fund about $34 million in projects, creating nearly 1,400 direct or indirect jobs over the next two years. This will be split among the Northwest states as $17.4 million for Idaho, $14.2 million for Washington, and $2.25 million for Oregon.
That includes spending more than $21 million for Columbia River fish mitigation in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. The Corps estimates that the Walla Walla District fish work alone will create more than 300 jobs and be completed by September 2010. The Corps' list refers specifically to awarding contracts to maintain progress or advance biological work "required by court decision."
That should please BiOp judge James Redden, who had asked parties in the ongoing litigation over the latest federal salmon plan whether agencies could tap into the new spending to help ESA-listed fish. At a meeting in early April, he heard from federal agencies, who announced more spending for estuary work (see story 3) that he had strongly suggested was needed before he might approve the latest salmon plan. But at the meeting, he brought up other possible actions--more spill, more flow, more mitigation, and dam breaching language that might be required before he OK'd the BiOp.
The feds said they would get back to him by May 1. In their response, they told the judge the Obama Administration had been briefed on the content and status of the 2008 BiOp and said the administration leadership had asked for another 30 to 60 days to "more fully understand all aspects of the BiOp."
The feds also said they had met with other plaintiffs, as the judge had suggested. They told the judge they would advise the Court and other parties of the leadership's perspectives on the BiOp after the 30- to 60-day period, "and whether additional discussions are warranted."
Judge Redden responded May 4. He was "encouraged" by discussions with the plaintiffs, and said the added time was "both appropriate and reasonable in order to allow the new administration to better understand the complex issues presented by this case. I am sure the additional time will be productive."
Redden said he would "soon provide the parties with guidance to assist them in effectively resolving the issues that go to the heart of the 2008 Biological Opinion."
But the Corps' Portland District is already committed to spending $131 million of its stimulus money in Oregon and southwest Washington. Nearly $7 million will pay for continuing environmental restoration near Eugene, Ore., and the lower Columbia River.
Another $28 million is slated for the design and construction of two new tribal fishing sites along the lower Columbia, along with completion of work at Celilo Village.
The Corps has two projects in the lower Columbia with a $3.2-million cost attached--continuing work at the Julia Butler Hansen Wildlife Refuge and other work to establish tidal connectivity between wetlands.
One of the priciest projects is the $7-million work to remove the surface bypass wall at Bonneville Dam's first powerhouse.
Corps' spokesman Rock Peters told NW Fishletter that the project is shovel-ready, with design and specifications work already completed. He said it wasn't at the top of their priority list, but was the one that was closest to being ready.
To qualify for funding, projects not only have to be shovel-ready, but must result in high, immediate employment; have little schedule risk; be executed by contract or direct hire of temporary labor; and complete a project phase, a project, an element, or provide a useful service that does not require additional funding.
The Corps' Seattle District will spend about $26 million on stimulus projects. Operations and maintenance funding includes work at Howard Hanson Dam on the Green River in Washington to address dam safety concerns, hiring seasonal staff to trap and haul pink salmon at Mud Mountain Dam near Enumclaw, Wash., improvements at Riley Creek recreation area on Lake Pend Oreille in Idaho, and dredging in Grays Harbor, Wash.
Seattle district construction funding includes restoration and levee set-back construction work in the Green Duwamish River basin in King County, Wash., and $1.8 million under Puget Sound and Adjacent Waters Restoration to initiate and complete construction of Phase II of the Seahurst Park component.
The Corps will also pay for a levee failure analysis for the Skagit River flood risk reduction study. -B. R.
The following links were mentioned in this story:
The Corps' list of civil works projects
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