BROWNLEY ANNOUNCES $9.85 MILLION FOR CHANNEL ISLANDS HARBOR DREDGING
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village) announced $9.85 million in funding has been included in the President’s FY2017 budget request that will be made available to dredge Channel Islands Harbor and to replenish sand at Hueneme Beach.
Funding will come from $7.98 million in President’s FY2017 budget request for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Additionally, the Navy is required to fund 19 percent of the total cost, bringing the total to $9.85 million.
“Ensuring the channel remains open is critical to Ventura County’s economy,” said Brownley. “Despite the scarcity of funds available for smaller ports and harbors across the nation, I have been working closely with the Obama Administration, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Navy, to ensure the channel remains navigable,” said Brownley. “These funds will also go to protect roads and homes at Hueneme Beach by replenishing much needed sand, which has been washed away even faster this year due to the strong El Nino currents.”
“The effective action of Congresswoman Julia Brownley in Washington to ensure the public health and safety at Channel Islands Harbor and Hueneme Beach is significant for Ventura County. Ensuring a bi-annual dredge that is funded and on-time is critical for residents and businesses at Channel Islands Harbor and the community of Port Hueneme,” said Ventura County Supervisor Kathy Long.
“We very much appreciate Congresswoman Brownley's effective and consistent efforts on behalf of this important Harbor project. Dredging here helps Harbor businesses, but also protects the City of Port Hueneme beaches, as well as the Navy base,” said Lyn Kreiger, Director of the Ventura County Harbor Department.
“This is good news. The people of Port Hueneme owe a debt of gratitude to Congresswoman Brownley, who has worked tirelessly to ensure adequate funding for the bi-annual dredge from her first day in office,” said Doug Breeze, Mayor of Port Hueneme.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began dredging Channel Islands Harbor decades ago because erosion was threatening Navy installations at Port Hueneme and the dredging provided the sand to replenish what had washed away. This project has historically been funded 100 percent by the federal government with the Navy contributing 19 percent.
Since coming to Congress, Brownley has worked closely with her colleagues, the Administration and local stakeholders to ensure funds for the bi-annual dredge of Channel Islands Harbor, which provides sand for Hueneme Beach.
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Julia Brownley represents California’s 26th Congressional District, which includes most of Ventura County, and Westlake Village in Los Angeles County. She serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and as the Ranking Member on the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health.