Levin, Stabenow Hail Passage of Water Resources Bill

Bill’s provisions would help to preserve and protect Michigan waterways

WASHINGTON – As the Senate today approved the Water Resources Development Act, Sens. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) hailed the inclusion of numerous provisions for Michigan and the Great Lakes. This bill authorizes projects, but funding for the projects would still need to be secured through the appropriations process.

“This bill is critically important for our nation’s water infrastructure,” said Levin, who serves as a co-chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force. “We need to repair and upgrade our waterways because so many of our businesses – and millions of jobs – depend on them. The bill finally authorizes the completion of the dispersal barrier to guard against invasive species and waives the non-federal cost-share for the construction of a second Poe-sized lock at Sault Ste. Marie, two longstanding priorities that will greatly benefit shippers and recreational users.”

“From protecting the Great Lakes from invasive species, to the dredging of recreational harbors across our state, this legislation serves as a critical framework for protecting and maintaining the lakes, rivers, harbors and other waterways that are such a crucial part of Michigan’s identity and economy. This legislation will create jobs, strengthen our communities and protect the waterways that are so central to our way of life,” said Stabenow. “I urge the President to sign this important piece of legislation.”

Following are provisions of the bill important to Michigan and the Great Lakes:

Great Lakes Navigation and Protection
Directs the Army Corps to expedite the operation and maintenance, including dredging, of the Great Lakes commercial navigation channels and infrastructure. This provision aims to address the very serious dredging backlog in the Great Lakes, which has been exacerbated by historic low water levels. The backlog has resulted in ships having to carry reduced loads, freighters getting stuck in channels, and some shipments that have ceased altogether. Every year, hundreds of millions of tons of goods are transported through the Great Lakes waterways, and communities throughout the Great Lakes are economically tied to waterborne commerce. Dredging to the needed depths and maintaining other navigational features of the system are critical. Also directs the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, in coordination with the Corps and other federal agencies, to carry out a pilot project to control and prevent further spreading of viral hemorrhagic septicemia in the Great Lakes.

Dispersal Barrier on Chicago River
Converts the existing dispersal barrier (Barrier I) into a permanent barrier at full federal expense. Completes construction of the second barrier (Barrier II) at full federal expense. Any states that provided funds to the effort will be reimbursed through cost sharing of other projects in their state, and both barriers will be operated and maintained at full federal expense. The Corps will also conduct a feasibility study on ways to prevent the spread of invasives between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River.

Sault Ste. Marie – Replacement Lock
Authorizes construction of a second Poe-sized lock, at full Federal expense, at a total cost of $341,714,000. Two-thirds of the carrying capacity of the U.S. Great Lakes fleet is currently limited to the one large lock, the Poe lock. If the Poe lock should fail, shipping between Lake Superior and Lake Huron would essentially cease, and the steel industry, coal reliant and agricultural industries dependent on farm exports would be severely harmed. This authorization, which waives the non-federal cost-share requirement, is a critical step for ensuring the viability of the Great Lakes shipping infrastructure.

Budgeting for Harbor Dredging Projects
States that it is the sense of Congress that the Corps’ budget should incorporate all available economic data rather than focus on a single metric such as the amount of cargo being moved. Beginning in fiscal year 2005, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Army Corps began implementing new budget guidelines and criteria for funding the Operation and Maintenance of commercial harbors, which rely primarily on the amount of tonnage a port handles. In setting this policy, harbors that do not move a large tonnage but are still important to the economic success of a community are unfairly biased against in the President’s budget. By expressing this Sense of the Congress, we are hopeful that these budgeting criteria will be corrected.

Environmental Infrastructure for Michigan
Authorizes $35 million for the correction of combined sewer overflows in Michigan. Many of Michigan’s communities have sewer systems dating back to the turn of the century, and sanitary sewage and storm water runoff are combined into one system. During heavy rains, these combined systems can overflow (also known as combined sewer overflows), polluting streams, rivers, and lakes. This important provision would help Michigan communities upgrade combined sewer systems, improving water quality in Michigan and the Great Lakes.

Au Sable River
Authorizes a project for navigation, including dredging of the Au Sable River in the vicinity of Oscoda, Michigan. This dredging is crucial so that boaters have access to local marinas, restaurants, and other businesses. Without this dredging, boaters could be prevented from accessing the river, which would be devastating for the economy.

Cass River
Authorizes a flood damage reduction project for the Cass River, in Vassar, Michigan and vicinity. The Cass River has regularly flooded residential and business properties over the past 30 years. Some of these floods have submerged major highways, limiting emergency rescue services. The existing levees are in poor condition and need to be repaired. This project is critical for protecting lives and properties. Clinton River – Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Project Authorizes a project for aquatic ecosystem restoration of the Clinton River. This would improve the water quality and natural habitat of the Clinton River. The project could also examine a means to “daylight” the Clinton River under the City of Pontiac. In past years, the river was enclosed in a series of conduits under the city. By restoring the surface flow through the city, the river ecology could be restored.

Clinton River – Project for Navigation
Authorizes a project for navigation at the Clinton River to make it easier for boaters to get to Lake St. Clair.

Detroit River Shoreline
Authorizes $3 million for emergency streambank and shoreline protection, which would include measures to enhance public access. This project would improve the riverfront walkway that allows for public access, and provides open space and recreational opportunities. The Army Corps has been engaged throughout the planning process, serving as staff on the planning committee and observers on the Board. This authorization is needed to ensure the integration of the numerous shoreline protections, flood control, navigation, and other hydrological and logistical elements along the river.

Ecorse Creek
Retains the authorization of the Ecorse Creek project located in Wayne County, which was originally authorized in WRDA 1990, and would help correct the flooding of Ecorse Creek. Ecorse Creek has a long history of flooding, which is expected to be a recurring problem unless corrective measures are implemented. In the long run, mitigation of the flooding problem would significantly reduce recurrent property loss and Federal disaster assistance expenditures.

Hamilton Dam, Flint River
Authorizes the Secretary to provide assistance to enhance dam safety at the Hamilton Dam, in the Flint River, in Flint, Michigan. Built in 1920, the Hamilton dam is rapidly deteriorating and the prospect of dam failure and what that would mean to those living downstream continues to be a major concern. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality has determined that this dam is in critical condition and could possibly fail in the near future. Also, the Army Corps has recommended replacement of the dam in a study conducted in 2000. This important authorization would allow for the rehabilitation of the Hamilton Dam.

Hamburg and Green Oak Townships
Authorizes a study to determine the feasibility of carrying out a project for flood damage reduction on Ore Lake and the Huron River for Hamburg and Green Oak Townships in Michigan. Floods in May 2004 destroyed or damaged about 200 homes. A flood control project is important for this growing area.

Kalamazoo River Watershed, Battle Creek
Authorizes a project for aquatic ecosystem restoration of the Kalamazoo River watershed in Battle Creek, Michigan. The Corps modified a portion of the Kalamazoo River flowing through Battle Creek’s downtown nearly fifty years ago. The river was redirected through a concrete channel for flood control. Although the project has alleviated flooding, the concrete channel created undesirable effects on the ecosystem of the river. This project would help the city of Battle Creek to meet their watershed management goals.

Luna Pier – along Lake Erie
Authorizes a study to determine the feasibility of carrying out a project for storm damage reduction and other related purposes along Lake Erie at Luna Pier, Michigan. The shoreline dike system and beach sills that were installed at Luna Pier continue to deteriorate because they are subjected to Lake Erie’s severe storms. This study is a first step in making the necessary repairs at Luna Pier to provide adequate storm damage reduction, beach erosion protection, and flood prevention.

Menominee Harbor – Outer Channel and Inner Harbor
Authorizes a project for navigation at Menominee. This provision would authorize dredging and other navigation-related projects that would accommodate access to warehousing and commercial operations. The additional depth would benefit deep-draft commercial vessel traffic, which has increased over the years and is expected to continue to increase.

Ontonagon River
Authorizes a project for navigation for the Ontonagon River. This provision would allow the Corps to extend the commercial navigation on the Ontonagon River and to deepen the channel. These changes are necessary to allow for better access to Ontonagon’s port facilities. Currently, there is only one vessel that can enter the harbor that handles the required volume of material for Ontonagon’s industrial community. Other ships have to back into the harbor to reach the dock and are unwilling to do so because of the prevailing currents at the mouth of the harbor. This authorization would help protect the vital shipping infrastructure in Ontonagon.

Ontonagon Harbor – Shore Damage Study
Authorizes a study of shore damage at Ontonagon harbor to determine if the damage is the result of a Federal navigation project. If the study concludes that the damage is a result of a Federal navigation project, then the Army Corps is authorized to mitigate the damages.

Sebewaing River
Authorizes a navigation project at the Sebewaing River. This provision would authorize the Corps to make repairs and improvements to the river to prevent the river walls from eroding, which is causing excessive sedimentation that is requiring more dredging.

St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair
Authorizes $20 million for the environmental restoration of the St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair. The pollution in Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair River has gone unaddressed for too long. By authorizing this project, which would use a collaboratively-developed cleanup plan, federal resources would be utilized more efficiently.

St. Joseph Harbor
Directs the Army Corps to expedite development of the dredged material management plan for the project for navigation at St. Joseph Harbor. Historically, the dredged materials were disposed of offshore, in deeper waters in Lake Michigan. The dredged materials now are used to protect against shoreline erosion and for beach nourishment. The Corps of Engineers estimates that 700,000 cubic yards of dredged materials will need to be managed over the next 20 years. For environmental reasons, the dredged materials in the inner harbors need an alternative management plan. This provision would help to expedite the planning process and evaluation of alternatives.

Traverse City Harbor
Authorizes the Corps to reconstruct the harbor at Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City, Michigan. The provision also allows the Secretary to review the locally prepared plan for the project, and if the Secretary determines that the plan is feasible and meets the Corps’ standards, the Secretary may use that plan to carry out the project, and provide credit toward the non-Federal share of the cost of the project for the cost of work carried out by the local sponsor before the date of the partnership agreement. The renovated harbor would support the operations of the Great Lakes Maritime Academy, our nation’s only freshwater state maritime academy, and vessels associated with the program, including the federally owned and operated T/S State of Michigan. The project would include dredging, construction of an eastern arm, reconstruction of the inner harbor area, and general site improvements.

Great Lakes Fishery and Ecosystems Restoration Program
Clarifies the existing program authority that a reconnaissance study is to be performed at full federal expense. Under this program, the Corps cooperates with other agencies to plan, implement and evaluate projects supporting the restoration of the fishery, ecosystem and beneficial uses of the Great Lakes. Also clarifies that in-kind contributions may be used to satisfy the non-federal cost share requirement.

John Glenn Great Lakes Basin Program
Allows in-kind contributions to satisfy the non-federal cost share requirement of a recreational boating study being carried out by the Commission and the Corps as part of the John Glenn Great Lakes Basin Program.

Aquatic Ecosystem & Estuary Restoration
Modifies the existing authority to increases the authorization of appropriations levels for this national program and to include dam removal projects. This authority is used throughout the Great Lakes to restore and protect the environment.

Modification of Projects for Improvement of the Quality of the Environment
Modifies the existing authority to increase the authorization of appropriations level for this program to $40 million. While a national program, this authority is used throughout the Great Lakes including projects utilizing sea lamprey dispersal barriers to prevent the spread of this aquatic invasive species.

Great Lakes Tributary Models Program
Extends the authorization of the Great Lakes Sediment Management Program, which calls for the Corps to develop sediment transport models for Great Lakes tributaries, to 2011. These computer models simulate the erosion, transport and deposition of sediments within a watershed, and can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of soil conservation and other source control measures on the loadings of sediments and sediment contaminants to Great Lakes harbors and navigation channels.

Great Lakes Remedial Action Plans and Sediment Remediation Program
Extends authorization of the Great Lakes Remedial Action Plans and Sediment Remediation Program, in which the Corps provides technical support to states and Remedial Action Plan committees so that the United States can meet its international obligations, to 2011. Through the 1987 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, the United States and Canada agreed to develop remedial action plans (RAPs) for the Areas of Concern, 26 of which are wholly located in the United States.

St. Lawrence Seaway
Allows the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation to carry out repair and rehabilitation projects, including associated maintenance dredging, of the Eisenhower and Snell lock facilities and related navigational infrastructure for the Saint Lawrence Seaway, at a total cost of $134,650,000.