WASHINGTON, DC—The House of Representatives today approved $600,000 in funding for two projects U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties) requested as part of the Fiscal Year 2010 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.

The projects are:

• $500,000 for the Santa Clara River Watershed Management Plan.

Encompassing more than 1,600 square miles, the Santa Clara River watershed is the largest in Southern California and is divided into two almost equal parts by the Los Angeles-Ventura County line.

Since 1991, a group of more than 26 stakeholders has been developing the Santa Clara River Enhancement and Management Plan (SCREMP) for the 100-year floodplain. Recognizing the continued pressure of urbanization in both Los Angeles and Ventura Counties that may affect the floodplain and environmental resources in the Santa Clara River Watershed, the Ventura County Watershed Protection District, Los Angeles County, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) agreed to cooperate in expanding the SCREMP to complete a feasibility study for the Santa Clara River Watershed Protection Plan.

This funding would go toward the USACE’s 50 percent share of the total project cost of $8.2 million.

• $100,000 for the Calleguas Municipal Water District Recycling Plant.

Once completed, the Calleguas Municipal Water District Recycling Plant will provide critical support to the mission of providing safe and reliable drinking water to the 600,000 people living in the district’s service area. Each year, Calleguas imports more than 110,000 acre-feet of water through the California Water Project. Imports constitute 100 percent of Calleguas’ supply.

The funding would provide a portion of the federal share to continue construction of the facility, which will reclaim and reuse more than 50,000 acre-feet of water annually. The recycled water will replace water that otherwise would have to be imported. It will have the added benefit of ensuring water in the case of delivery interruptions because of natural disasters or attacks on the imported water infrastructure.