FY06 funding brings $170 million for local Corps projects

WALLA WALLA, WA - The Fiscal Year 2006 (FY 06) Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, signed by President George W. Bush, includes $5.4 billion for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works projects to manage the nation's water resources.

These projects will help maintain and manage navigable waterways, effectively operate flood damage reduction and multiple-purpose projects, and restore and regulate wetlands and other important environmental resources across the nation.

The Walla Walla District, USACE, is expected to receive about $74.2 million of the national budget to fund work in the Snake and Columbia river basins. Combined with funds from other agencies to administer specific programs, the District will perform about $170 million in local projects over the fiscal year.

Fisheries

To increase the survival of migrating salmon and steelhead trout, Congress has authorized the design, testing and construction of new or improved fish facilities. One of the Corps' biggest construction programs is the Columbia River Fish Mitigation Project, encompassing five dams in Walla Walla District and three others in the Corps' Portland District, along the Columbia and Snake rivers.

In FY 06, the Columbia River Fish Mitigation Project will receive $85 million. Regional priorities will determine the final allocation of these funds, but the Walla Walla District is expected to receive about 50 percent, or more than $43 million, to fund research and improvements to fish passage facilities at McNary, Ice Harbor, Lower Monumental, Little Goose and Lower Granite projects, and to participate in system-wide evaluations.

At McNary Lock and Dam, near Umatilla, OR, funds will be used to perform passage efficiency and survival studies, construct improvements to the north shore adult fish ladder's passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag detection system and initiate preliminary studies on surface bypass alternatives that will lead to recommendations for improvements to fish passage at the dam.

At Ice Harbor Lock and Dam, near Burbank, WA, post-construction biological studies will be conducted to evaluate the performance of the spillway weir that was installed in February 2005.

Construction of a spillway weir will begin at the Lower Monumental Lock and Dam, near Kahlotus, WA. Passage efficiency and survival studies will be performed, and design for installation of a PIT tag detection system in the juvenile bypass system will be initiated.

At Little Goose Lock and Dam, near Starbuck, WA, funds will be used to perform passage efficiency and survival studies, and conduct modeling and preliminary design work to develop a surface passage alternative.

Modifications to the adult fish ladder transition pool and post-construction biological evaluation of this improvement will be conducted at Lower Granite Lock and Dam, near Pomeroy, WA. Studies will be performed to complete evaluation of the effectiveness of the prototype behavioral guidance structure, with demolition and removal of the prototype structure slated for late summer.

System-wide studies to evaluate the effects of passage through the Columbia River hydrosystem of both adult and juvenile salmonids will continue this year.

Environmental

The Corps is continuing work on the Lower Snake River Fish and Wildlife Compensation Plan in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. The District will use the $675,000 appropriated for this project to continue riparian habitat planning and development, initiate construction of the Rice Bar Habitat Management Unit, conduct cultural and engineering surveys at Asotin Slough and Beckwith Bar HMUs, and initiate aquatic and terrestrial monitoring at Beckwith Bar, Swift Bar and Rice Bar HMUs - all on the Snake River.

The Corps will use $5 million appropriated for the Rural Idaho Environmental Infrastructure and Resource Protection and Development Program to continue assisting the State of Idaho rural communities with design and construction of water-related environmental infrastructure, resource protection and developmental projects. The District's work under this program includes continuing projects in the communities of Rupert, Burley, Bonners Ferry, St. Joe and Coolin. The District is initiating other program efforts with Emmett, Donnelly, Driggs, Smelterville and the Eastern Idaho Regional Water Authority.

Hydropower

The Walla Walla District is the second-largest hydropower producer in the Corps of Engineers, providing a total generating capacity of 4,413 megawatts to the Federal Columbia River Power System. The District has been producing power since 1954 when McNary's powerhouse was placed in operation. Today, the six hydropower projects on the Columbia, Snake and Clearwater rivers operated by the Walla Walla District - McNary, Ice Harbor, Lower Monumental, Little Goose, Lower Granite and Dworshak, near Orofino - together can generate enough power for about 1.5 million homes.

Hydropower production at the Corps' multipurpose projects is directly funded by the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), which markets the power generated by the federal projects. BPA also provides funds for the hydropower portion of these joint activities - natural resources, the Anadromous Fish Evaluation Program and the cultural resources program. In FY 06, Walla Walla District will receive $57.6 million from BPA for routine operation and maintenance at these hydropower projects. The District will receive about $35 million from BPA for capital plant additions and improvements to power-generating facilities.

Water Resource Studies

The appropriations act also funds studies of identified water resource problems and possible solutions that will benefit the region. In conducting the studies, the Corps will compare alternative solutions, determine the costs and benefits of alternative plans, and recommend specific courses of action to Congress, which may then authorize and appropriate funds for construction of a recommended project. Walla Walla District will spend $2 million on studies at seven different projects.

O&M

The Walla Walla District Operation and Maintenance Program includes navigation, flood damage reduction and six multipurpose projects. In FY 06, $24.6 million has been appropriated for all operation and maintenance (O&M) activities - day-to-day operation and maintenance of the District's multipurpose projects, navigation locks, levees and recreation facilities.

The Walla Walla District is committed to serving its customers, the people of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah and Nevada, through the Corps-wide Civil Works program.