News of the Arroyo
Title: | Arroyo Seco project could get federal funds |
Subtitle: | |
Date: | 2008-06-26 |
Summary: | June 26, 2008 - Congressman Adam Schiff scores for Arroyo Seco restoration with $200,000 for the Army Corps of Engineers study of the Arroyo Seco watershed. |
Author: | Dan Abendschein, Staff Writer |
Publication: | Pasadena Star-News |
Content: | PASADENA - Federal funding that could kick-start the revitalization of the Arroyo Seco leaped past a major hurdle Wednesday as the House Appropriations Committee approved $4.7 million for San Gabriel Valley water cleanup projects. The funding, added by Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Pasadena, would provide $4 million to a San Gabriel Valley water cleanup fund, plus another $200,000 for a survey of the Arroyo Seco watershed. Officials for a local group working to restore the Arroyo Seco were delighted. The Arroyo Seco Foundation has proposed conducting a three-year study of the feasibility of introducing a sustainable habitat to the watershed. But the study has been foundering since 2002 for lack of funding, foundation Director Tim Brick said Wednesday. \"The funding was supposed to be provided half from local government, half from federal government,\" he said. \"The local government has done its part, but the study has been lagging because it has not gotten federal money.\" The study will look at alternatives to the concrete chutes and flood-control gates that mostly line the river at this time. \"We are trying to look at how to have a natural river with native fish and plants, instead of just a seasonal flood channel,\" said Brick. Another potential benefactor of the funding approved Wednesday is the San Gabriel Basin Restoration Fund, which could receive $4 million. The fund was established to clean up water supplies all over the Valley. Contaminated groundwater at many places around the Valley is on the federal Superfund list for cleanup, according to Gabriel Monares, spokesman for the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority. Cleanup will ultimately cost $1 billion, said Monares, but the agency already has secured $600 million in funding for it. The other $400 million has been coming in from federal funds, said Monares. He said the agency typically receives $4 million to $10 million a year in federal funds. It had expected to receive the $4 million this year. While the funding bill must still face a vote on the House floor, which could happen sometime next month - it would have to pass there and President Bush would have to sign it before the area can receive the funds - Schiff said he was optimistic. \"It\'s very hard to tell how good a chance the bill has this year. But often the first hurdle is the toughest one, and we passed that with flying colors,\" he said. dan.abendschein@sgvn.com (626) 962-8811, Ext. 4451 |
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