INHOFE SUPPORTS FUNDING FOR FLOOD PREVENTION
August 4, 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) today voted against an amendment that would eliminate funding for watershed and flood prevention for fiscal year 2010 from the Agriculture Appropriations Bill, H.R.2997. Under the Watershed program, 2,105 upstream flood control dams have been constructed in 121 watersheds in 64 counties across Oklahoma, providing benefits such as flood control, water supply, erosion control, recreation, wetlands, and wildlife habitat. The amendment, S.Amdt.1912, failed in the Senate by a vote of 70 to 27.
"With more upstream flood control dams than anywhere else in the country, protecting 1,532 county and highway bridges, providing flood prevention for 20,541 farms and ranches, and with over 300 dams currently undergoing rehabilitation, it is undisputable that the continued funding of this program is imperative to Oklahoma - something that President Obama does not understand as he chose to allocate $0 for the program in his fiscal year 2010 budget," Inhofe said. "I am very pleased that my Senate Colleagues disagree with the President and instead chose not to strip this necessary funding from the bill.
"With over 2,105 flood control dams, Oklahoma has more interest in the upstream flood control program than any other state in the union," said Trey Lam, President of the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts. "It is vital that this program be funded if we are going to ensure the safety of the lives and property of Oklahoman's."
"In the next 10 years over 1,000 Oklahoma dams will be past their design life and be in need of rehabilitation," Clay Pope, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts said. "Every year these dams save Oklahoma over $70 million in flood damage that doesn't happen because of the protection they provide. We are very appreciative of Senator Inhofe and his continue support this program and are grateful for his leadership in making sure that this program continues to operate to help protect Oklahoma from the ravages of flash floods."
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