$2.5 Million For Flood Protection, Stream Improvement Projects Announced

The Department of Environmental Protection this week announced eight contracts and 22 grants have been awarded for 47 flood protection and stream improvement projects in 21 counties. An additional four projects in two counties are currently in the grant execution process and will be awarded soon.

 

Total value for the 51 projects is more than $2.5 million but Governor Rendell warned that funding for these projects in the future will be jeopardized under spending cuts proposed in the state Senate version of the 2009-2010 budget.

 

“Through the flood protection and stream improvement programs, we have helped local governments to maintain these vital structures,” Gov. Rendell said. “It would create a financial hardship for these communities if the state were to dramatically reduce this support during these difficult economic times.”

 

The Department of Environmental Protection oversees Pennsylvania’s flood protection and stream improvement programs and is already facing $19 million in spending reductions under Gov. Rendell’s proposed 2009-2010 budget. An alternative budget recently presented by the state Senate would cut $50 million from the department including nearly $1.4 million from the flood protection program.

 

A list of projects is available online.