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Posted at 5:54 PM, Mar 04, 2022

and last updated 8:54 PM, Mar 04, 2022

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Water Resources Development Act of 2022 Requests

Congress typically authorizes Army Corps of Engineers projects under legislation known as the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA).

The House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee is working to craft the 2022 version of this multi-year legislation. The bill typically supports navigation, restoration, water supply and treatment, flood control and similar programs implemented in partnerships between local/state entities and the Army Corps of Engineers.

For the 2022 legislation, Congressman Issa has submitted the following requests to the Committee for its consideration.  Each project was reviewed for jurisdiction and accuracy and is subject to further analysis and a final determination by the Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure.  This phase is the early stage of Congressional consideration and subsequent authorization and will later be followed by a separate appropriation process.

Projects are funded through the Army Corps of Engineers and are supported by a combined match between federal Corps funds and local/state/non-federal funds.

CA-50 Member Requested Applications for WRDA.

Projects are listed in alphabetical order of applicant.

Request 1

Project Name: Escondido Creek Runoff, Cleanup and Flood Control Project

Location: Escondido, California 92025

Sponsor: City of Escondido

Requested Amount: Total Project Scope $34,000,000

Other Information: This project will help provide leadership and partnership to provide design and construction services on a major water resources project serving a large and diverse community in the 50^th Congressional District and the adjacent district of Rep. Scott Peters, with whom this project is submitted jointly on a bipartisan basis.

The Escondido Creek project will help manager stormwater, improve water quality, and benefit the watershed’s environment and surrounding residents and ecosystems while also expanding groundwater infiltration, a critical part of the natural water cycle. This project will also help benefit more than 450 single- and multi-family homes along and around the watershed that are currently paying for costly flood insurance by building storm drains necessary to remove these homes from the floodplain; in addition, city officials will expand the tree canopy in a high urban heat zone that is at present, largely devoid of trees.

The project area is impacted by storms far beyond 50-100 year storm events. Localized flooding has occurred sixteen times during in the past three years alone. The existing undersized storm drain system fills to capacity and spills out and floods portions of several major local streets. During these events, city staff work to clear inlets and storm drains, and utilizes sandbags along surrounding streets to prevent runoff from overtopping the curb and flooding lower lying adjacent properties.

Request 2

Project Name: East County Advanced Water Purification Program

Location: Santee, Lakeside and surrounding communities, San Diego County, California

Sponsor: Padre Dam Municipal Water District, partner agency for East County Advanced Water Purification Program.

Requested Amount: $70,000,000

Other Information: This project is a collaborative program to provide East San Diego County a new local and sustainable drought-proof drinking water supply; eliminate 15 million gallons per day of treated wastewater discharge through advanced reclamation and recycling; reduce dependence on imported water; and provide up to 30% of the region’s drinking water demand. 

Regional and project officials have been leaders in collectively addressing these goals to meet the needs of a thriving local economy and expanding population base. Purifying recycled water is an important part of this effort.  Using a four-step purification process, the East County Advanced Water Purification Program facilities remove pharmaceuticals, chemicals, microplastics, bacteria and viruses, producing water that meets all state and federal drinking water standards.  Water is so pure that beneficial minerals must be added back into the water before the finished product is delivered to users.

This program is jointly funded through a combination of low interest loans, grants, and incentives—and WRDA matching funds will reflect the truly regional importance and national leadership of this innovative and successful water project.  Rep. Sara Jacobs and Rep. Issa submitted this project jointly on a bipartisan basis.

Request 3

Project Name: Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians Water Infrastructure Modernization and Sewer System Improvements

Location: Rincon Tribe Reservation, Valley Center, California 92082

Sponsor: Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians

Requested Amount: $38,000,000

Other Information: The Rincon Band occupies a 5,000-acre reservation in inland, northern San Diego County.  The reservation and surrounding area landscape have been altered in the last century as the waters of the San Luis Rey River were diverted into the Escondido Canal—reducing a natural flowing, local water supply for the tribe, which today relies on groundwater.  WRDA funding will improve the quality of life for tribal members, visitors and travelers to the reservation and through the area, by helping to facilitate restoration of crumbling water infrastructure and outdated sewer systems.

To serve the entire reservation and tribal community and visitors, the community needs approximately 5,280 feet of eight-inch water distribution lines and approximately the same length of ten-inch potable water distribution pipeline.  These components will help to meet federal standards for fire protection with adequate hydrants in a fire-prone region. This project will also include 5,000 of purple reclaimed water pipeline as part of a sewer system overhaul to utilize existing sewer processing systems to better facilitate recharging their groundwater aquifer.  The community currently relies exclusively on groundwater sources, and modern components will ensure economical operation and help meet conservation objectives.

Read the three letters to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure outlining these requests here, here and here.