City nabs federal funding
Published 2:34 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008
SNOQUALMIE _ The city of Snoqualmie will likely receive
more than $1.7 million from the federal government to help with flood
control along the Snoqualmie River. North Bend would also get $50,000 to
study flood-reduction efforts.
Rep. Jennifer Dunn, R-Wash., announced the funding Sept. 28,
which is part of a spending bill on energy and water programs. The Senate was
expected to pass the same bill Monday, and Dunn’s office said
President Clinton would likely sign the bill.
The money to Snoqualmie and North Bend was part of a list
of projects slated for the 8th Congressional District, which also
include work on additional storage for the Howard Hanson Dam and a study
on ways to increase the number of chinook salmon in the Duwamish
and Green rivers.
“In June the House passed this bill with ample funding for
much-needed projects in the 8th District,” Dunn
said in a statement. “I’m pleased to report that Congress gave the final stamp
of approval on the bill, and it significantly increases the amount of money for
the Howard Hanson Dam.”
Snoqualmie is expected to receive $1.717 in federal funds to widen
the Snoqualmie River and remove an old bridge to help flood conveyance.
A congressional aide in Dunn’s Washington, D.C., office said the
money would also be used for river-bank stabilization.
Snoqualmie Mayor Randy “Fuzzy” Fletcher said he
appreciated Dunn’s support for the project.
“I have been working with her office for years to get this done, and
she has been very supportive,” he said.
The city of North Bend will use the $50,000 it receives to conduct
a feasibility study for reducing flooding along the South Fork of
the Snoqualmie River. Dunn’s congressional aide said the study must be
completed before the city can start on a construction project.
Other projects receiving money include:
• $1.5 million for pre-design of the additional water storage
project at Howard Hanson Dam. The project will increase water storage at the
dam, as well as making fish passage and habitat improvements.
• $300,000 to the city of Renton, which reimburses the city
for mitigation costs associated with the overdredging of the Cedar River
by the Army Corps of Engineers. The overdredging damaged salmon
habitat, forcing the city to pay for improvements.
• $220,000 to the Duwamish-Green Rivers Ecosystem to conduct
a salmon restoration study.
