Comments on Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2016 Sep 26, 2016 Comment Letters To: Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein Subject: Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2016 Letter excerpt: There are several provisions in S 2848 that are important to public water agencies in California and ACWA encourages you to work to preserve and enhance these sections as you move to conference with the House of Representatives. As you are aware, California is in the middle of a historic drought and California’s complex water management system is facing unprecedented challenges. WRDA 2016 presents a unique opportunity for the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) to help address California’s water problems. Section 1009: Environmental Infrastructure Section 1009 would increase funding available for previously authorized environmental infrastructure projects. ACWA supports this provision and appreciates its inclusion in S 2848. Additionally, many California water agencies would like to see language that would authorize new environmental infrastructure projects such as water supply projects, water recycling projects, and wastewater treatment projects. Section 1014 of WRDA 2014 should have allowed local sponsors to partner with ACOE on these projects. Unfortunately, ACOE does not believe it is authorized to engage in these types of projects and water agencies have had difficulty engaging with ACOE. ACWA supports HR 2689, a bipartisan bill that directs ACOE to participate in environmental infrastructure and urges you to add this bill to WRDA 2016 during conference. Download ACWA’s comment letter
