(Washington D.C.)- A key committee in the House of Representatives signed off on the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) legislation today that includes a provision calling for up to $10 million a year to implement restoration projects in Lake St. Clair.  The Lake St. Clair restoration language was requested by U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) in a letter to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee earlier this year (see below letter).

"We have a management plan to restore Lake St. Clair," said U.S. Rep. Levin. "The challenge is to turn the management plan's recommendations into action.  Everyone, including the federal government, has to step forward and take responsibility for this."

The Lake St. Clair provision calls for up to $10 million annually to allow the Corps, in partnership with the state of Michigan and local government, to implement the recommendations of the comprehensive management plan for Lake St. Clair that was approved in 2005.  The language adopted by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is similar to language approved last year by the U.S. Senate, which was requested by Senator Carl Levin.  The Michigan Delegation attempted to get final approval of this language last fall, but the 109th Congress adjourned before reaching agreement on the water resources measure. 

The new Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, U.S. Rep. Oberstar of Minnesota, has made passage of the Water Resources Development Act a top priority this year.  The next step in the process is for the full House of Representatives to approve the Water Resources Development Act.  Following passage of the Water Resources legislation by the House, the measure must be reconciled with the water bill being developed by the Senate.  Michigan Senators Levin and Stabenow have also requested funding for Lake St. Clair restoration. 

Congress routinely approves a major water resources bill every two or three years, but the WRDA bill has been snagged for years due to disagreements over how to reform the manner in which the Army Corps of Engineers formulates, reviews and implements projects.  As a result, Congress has not approved a water resources bill since 2000.

U.S. Rep. Sander Levin letter below:

February 21, 2007

The Honorable James L. Oberstar           The Honorable John L. Mica
Chairman                                              Ranking Member
2165 Rayburn HOB                                2163 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515                          Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairman Oberstar and Ranking Member Mica:

I am writing to request that the Committee include language in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) to implement projects that are consistent with the St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair Management Plan authorized in Section 426 of WRDA 1999 and to provide finanacial assistance for the development and implementation of projects to restore, conserve, and manage the river, the lake and their watersheds. 

In addition, I request that the Corps coordinate with other federal and state organizations to convene a U.S. Lake St. Clair Watershed Management Advisory Committee to coordinate activities.  I would also ask that the Committee authorize the use of the implementation plan drafted through a public participation process by the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG). 

The Corps is currently reviewing what authorities may be needed in order to monitor water quality on Lake St. Clair.  The Great Lakes Commission and the Army Corps of Engineers have developed a comprehensive management plan for Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair River as authorized in Section 426 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1999.  The goals of this planning effort are to evaluate the causes of environmental stress to the St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair, determine management goals and objectives, review ongoing management activities, and develop recommendations for management priorities.  Now that the Management Plan is finalized, the Corps needs to implement the recommendations so that restoration can proceed.  By authorizing a Lake St. Clair Watershed Management Advisory Committee, we can be sure that federal resources for all agencies are being utilized efficiently.  

Please note that during the last Congress, both the House and Senate versions of the WRDA legislation included authorization language for the St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair.  The provision contained in the Senate-passed bill [Section 3056] authorized up to $10 million a year for restoration activities in the Lake St. Clair and St. Clair River watersheds.  The Senate-approved authorization level was much stronger than the corresponding House language, and I would ask the Committee to include the higher funding level adopted in Section 3056 of the Senate-passed bill.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.  This is the highest-priority WRDA request I will be submitting.  If you need additional information, please contact my Legislative Director, Dan Jourdan, at x54961.

Sincerely,

s/

Sander M. Levin
Member of Congress

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