Senator Boxer Visits St. Helena

July 13, 2007

I recently joined Congressman Mike Thompson in St. Helena to discuss the need for flood protection along the Napa River.  This region knows from past experience that the Napa River can become a raging torrent, as it did during the 2005-2006 New Year's Eve storms.

Congressman Thompson and I are both working to ensure that this flood control project is included in the final Water Resources Development Act.  This legislation authorizes important flood control projects nationwide and allows the federal government to pay for part of the cost of the project. 

One of the many sad lessons of Hurricane Katrina is that we ignore our flood control and water projects at our nation’s peril.  As Chairman of the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee, I am working every day to make sure that we pass the important Water Resources Development Act and provide the funding necessary to building the important projects included in it, including St. Helena’s Napa River project.  I know that Congressman Thompson is equally dedicated to this project.

The Napa River Comprehensive Flood Control Project will provide protection for the city and its residents from flooding using a combination of both structural and natural flood control components.  Rather than only fighting against Mother Nature, this project works with the natural defenses that nature provides.  Indeed, in critical places, this project reconnects the river to its natural flood plain. This reconnection will allow the flood plain to act as a sponge, soaking in massive amounts of excess water during heavy rains.  By reconnecting the Napa River to its flood plain, the project will both improve flood protection and restore the natural riverside habitat, improving conditions for fish, including Chinook salmon and steelhead trout, birds and other wildlife.

St. Helena can be proud of the project it has helped to create for the Napa River. I am pleased to be working with both local officials and Congressman Thompson to make the project a reality.  You can see photos from my visit by clicking here.

Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer
United States Senator

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