WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today Congresswoman Lois Capps announced the approval of $3,136,000 for operations and maintenance dredging in Morro Bay Harbor as part of the conference report on H.R. 3183, the Fiscal Year 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations bill. The conference report was approved yesterday by the by the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 308 to 114. Next week the legislation will be considered by the Senate and is expected to pass and go on to the President for his approval.
At the request of Congresswoman Capps, the conference report included the federal funding for the annual dredging of the Morro Bay Harbor in order to maintain a channel depth of between 30 and 40 feet thereby allowing for safe passage of harbor traffic. This is in addition to the $5,240,000 that was included for this project in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 1). Morro Bay Harbor is the only commercial and recreational harbor located between Santa Barbara and Monterey.
“Continued dredging of Morro Bay Harbor is essential for the survival of our fishing and tourism industries, especially in this difficult economic environment” said Capps. “This federal funding will help support our top-notch harbor facilities, allow safe passage for the harbor’s commercial, recreational and Coast Guard traffic, and keep our waterway clean and healthy for generations to come.”
The harbor is home to U.S. Coast Guard Station Morro Bay, which provides primary waterside security for Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant and Vandenberg Air Force Base. The Coast Guard station also serves critical law enforcement and search and rescue missions for more than 300 miles of California’s coastline. Capps has worked to secure funding for this program since being elected to Congress in 1998. Failure to adequately maintain the channels would likely cause the closure of U.S.C.G. Station Morro Bay, endanger the fragile Central Coast commercial fishing industry, and impair other businesses in the Harbor.
Also at the request of Congresswoman Capps, the conference report included language making the City of Pismo Beach eligible to receive federal funding to study of the link between wave impacts and bluff erosion along Highway 1. Wave action has caused erosion which has jeopardized existing street rights-of-way, City infrastructure, and public improvements. To date, the federal government has contributed over $500,000 to review existing shoreline erosion problems that Pismo Beach is experiencing and assess feasible measures to solve the identified problems.
“Given the severity of this issue, I’m encouraged that the Federal government will continue to be eligible to receive funding to study how we can better protect this important stretch of coastline from further erosion,” said Capps.
