Manchin Announces More Than $14 Million to Improve WV Waterways
Watershed rehabilitation funding will help repair aging infrastructure, protect health and safety of local residents, and provide jobs
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin announced that watershed management projects in four West Virginia communities will receive a total of $14,200,099 through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) assistance program for planning, design and/or construction of watershed structures. The funds will be used to make critical improvements to dams and watershed structures that protect public health and safety.
“Our watershed structures and dams are an important line of protection to our communities—protecting our families and homes from floods, keeping our water supplies clean and providing reliable infrastructure,” Senator Manchin said. “Not only do these funds directly support local communities struggling to address aging infrastructure, but the rehabilitation of our waterways also creates construction jobs and invests in local service and support industries.”
Through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) assistance program, local communities across the nation have constructed over 11,000 dams in 47 states, including West Virginia. Many of these dams are nearing the end of their 50-year design life; therefore, rehabilitation of these dams is needed to address public health and safety. Senator Manchin has actively fought to keep this critical program funded through annual appropriation letters. He also supported this program by voting in favor of the 2014 Farm Bill, which facilitated this funding.
West Virginia projects awarded funding include:
• Upper Deckers Creek Site 1 (Preston County) — $10,250,000
• Brush Creek Site 14 (Mercer County) — $2,476,728
• New Creek Site 14 (Grant County) — $1,000,000
• Wheeling Creek Site 25 (Marshall County) — $473,371
For more information on the West Virginia watershed rehabilitation projects, please click here.
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