The U.S. President Obama’s Budget for fiscal year 2015 has been released and included $825 million in funding for the civil works program of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mississippi Valley Division.
“ The fiscal 2015 civil works budget for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reflects the Administration’s priorities of supporting and improving the nation’s economy, protecting the American people and restoring and protecting our environment, ” said the Honorable Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works . “ This budget continues the Administration’s emphasis on maintaining the nation’s coastal channels and inland waterways, reducing flood risks to the American public and restoring large ecosystems – through targeted investments that fund the development, management, restoration and protection of the nation’s water, wetlands and related resources.”
“The President’s budget will help the Mississippi Valley Division continue its critical work in key mission areas such as flood risk reduction, navigation improvements and sustaining our environment, ” said Brig. Gen. Duke DeLuca, MVD Commander and MRC President-designee.
The Army civil works budget funds the planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of projects, and focuses on the highest performing work within three main civil works mission areas: commercial navigation, flood and coastal storm damage reduction and aquatic ecosystem restoration.
The breakdown for the Mississippi Valley Division budget request is as follows:
1. Investigations – $4 million (for studies, design, coordination, data collection);
The Investigations program includes:
– Funding to complete the White River Comprehensive-Lower Cache study.
2. Construction – $76 million (for project construction);
The Construction program includes:
– $10 million for the Louisiana Coastal Area Ecosystem Restoration, a high-priority new construction start;
– $33 million for the Upper Mississippi River Restoration, Ill., Iowa, Minn., Mo. and Wisc.; one of the Corps ongoing ecosystem projects designated as a civil works high priority.
3. Operation and Maintenance – $447 million (for the operation and maintenance of existing projects which include hydropower facilities, locks and dams, recreation areas, navigable waterways and environmental features);
4 . Flood Control, Mississippi River and Tributaries – $245 million (for the study, design, construction, operation and maintenance for water resources projects in the historic flood plain of the Mississippi River from Cape Girardeau, Mo., to Head of Passes, La.).
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Press Release, March 6, 2014