(WASHINGTON, DC) - Requests by Congressman Dennis Moore (Third District - Kansas) for flood control project funding have been included in draft legislation of the FY 2003 energy and water appropriations bill approved by the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water.

“I have made my colleagues in the House aware of the damage caused by the repeated flooding of Turkey Creek,” said Moore. “I am pleased that they have placed a high priority on helping state and local governments prevent future problems for local homes and businesses. I hope congressional leaders fulfill their obligation to bring this bill to a vote quickly, so these important projects can continue.”

Moore’s request for $350,000 to fund further design work on the Turkey Creek flood control project in Kansas City, KS, and Kansas City, MO, is included in the bill. His $300,000 request for a flood damage reduction study on Upper Turkey Creek is also included. That project ranges from the Merriam city limits near 75th street to the upstream limits of the Turkey Creek flood control project already underway.

"These funds are a small amount to pay to ensure that the millions of dollars of property, homes, and businesses in our area are adequately protected from flooding," said Moore.

Turkey Creek flows from its urbanized drainage basin in Johnson County into Kansas City and the Kansas River. Severe flooding has occurred along the basin, most recently in 1993, 1998, and in June of 1999.

Moore’s additional request for $500,000 was also approved to continue an ongoing feasibility study of the levee systems on the Kansas and Missouri Rivers. This levee system was nearly overrun during the serious flood suffered by the Kansas City region in 1993 and the study will examine whether the levees and floodwalls should be reinforced and/or raised.

The draft legislation also included funding to complete a project stabilizing erosion on the Kansas River near Eudora, KS. The project began to prevent the devastation of farmland along riverbanks and of a bridge leading into Leavenworth County. Funding will finish the construction of a series of protective walls and will match allocations already contributed by Douglas and Leavenworth Counties.