| July 1, 2005 - (Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senator David Vitter announced that the U.S. Senate passed the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill late yesterday, which included $10.4 million for the Ouachita-Black Rivers Navigation Project. “Water projects are particularly important for Louisiana because of our dependence on our rivers for commercial and recreational activity,” said Vitter. “This funding to keep the Ouachita and Black rivers navigable is vital for continued economic growth at the Ouachita port and in northeast Louisiana.” The Ouachita-Black Rivers Navigation Project is a navigation channel on the Red, Black and Ouachita rivers extending 382 miles from Old River to Camden, Ark. The project consists of four locks and dams and provides a channel with a minimum depth of 9 feet, a minimum bottom width of 100 feet and a minimum radius of 1,000 feet in channel bends. “Northeast Louisiana consumers and businesses rely on these rivers for barge traffic, and residents rely on them for the recreational opportunities they provide. This $10.4 million in federal funding will help keep the navigation project running,” Vitter said. The Energy and Water Appropriations Bill has already passed the U.S. House of Representatives and will now move to a House-Senate conference committee where a final agreement will be produced. “As the bill moves to a House-Senate conference committee, I will continue to impress upon my colleagues the importance of these projects to Louisiana and work to see that this funding is included in the final version of the bill,” said Vitter. |
Audio Clip | 
Video Clip | 
Document