[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 50 (Thursday, April 24, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E752-E753]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SUPPORT FUNDING FOR SAN PEDRO CREEK WETLANDS RESTORATION AND FLOOD 
                            CONTROL PROJECT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 24, 1997

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the 
President's 1998 budget request for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 
As you know, the Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for the 
planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of important 
flood control projects around our Nation. I urge continued support for 
full funding of the Continuing Authorities Program which will ensure 
that important flood control projects around our Nation can proceed on 
schedule. Full funding will also ensure that there will be no delays in 
construction of projects that have already been started.
  Mr. Speaker, I recently presented testimony to the House 
Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development regarding 
two local issues important to residents of the San Francisco Bay area. 
I respectfully request that my testimony appear in the Record for the 
benefit of my colleagues in the House.

    Testimony of Congressman Lantos Before the House Appropriations 
              Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development

                             March 31, 1997

       Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the opportunity to present 
     testimony to your Subcommittee as you begin to consider the 
     Energy and Water appropriations bill for fiscal year 1998. We 
     in Congress face difficult challenges and painful choices as 
     we work to reduce the federal budget deficit. I applaud your 
     record in this area and you can count on my continued support 
     of serious efforts to cut wasteful spending. I am delighted 
     to present information regarding two projects important to my 
     community which fall under your Subcommittee's jurisdiction 
     and to urge your continued support for these significant 
     projects.
       As you know, the Congressional district that I represent is 
     geographically unique and diverse. My Congressional district 
     comprises the San Francisco Peninsula which is home to the 
     residents of the City of San Francisco and northern and 
     central San Mateo County. The Peninsula is flanked by the 
     Pacific Ocean to the West and by the San Francisco Bay to the 
     east. Steep coastal mountains run up the middle of the 
     Peninsula.
       To the east of these mountains are the densely populated 
     cities of San Mateo County which are located along the San 
     Francisco Bay. The Bay front itself consists of the San 
     Francisco International Airport, Candlestick Park, light 
     industry, salt flats and the Port of Redwood City. 
     Residential neighborhoods and commercial areas lie 
     between the Bay front and the mountain ridges. To the west 
     of the mountains, which follow the San Andreas fault, are 
     the coastal communities of San Mateo County, including 
     Pacifica, which lie on the Pacific Ocean.
       The City of Pacifica is located a few miles south of the 
     City of San Francisco. It is surrounded by the Central Coast 
     Ranges and by the Pacific Ocean. City limits include three 
     ridge systems and their adjacent valleys and hillsides, set 
     against a coastline of beaches and rugged headlands. San 
     Pedro Creek has the largest drainage area and flows four 
     miles through the narrow San Pedro Valley and the Linda Mar 
     District to the Pacific Ocean. Linda Mar is the most populous 
     of several seaside communities in Pacifica. This area has 
     experienced numerous floods in recent history with flood 
     damage occurring mostly in the lowest reaches of the creek.
       San Pedro Creek has historically flooded on a 10-year 
     cycle. The mountains and hills around San Pedro Valley are 
     steep and rainfall and runoff can be rapid and intense. 
     Currently, the lower reaches of the San Pedro Creek channel 
     can contain within its banks, at maximum, an 8- to 10-year 
     runoff event. The last major flooding occurred there in 1982 
     when more than 300 homes were flooded and more than $5 
     million of damage occurred.
       The City of Pacifica has been working closely with the US 
     Army Corps of Engineers for more than 15 years in developing 
     a flood control project to provide 100 year flood control 
     protection in the Linda Mar Valley. A number of plans were 
     originally proposed, but were stalled due to lack of funding 
     and environmental concerns. Two alternative projects were 
     considered as possible solutions to the flood problem. 
     However, due to environmental concerns and prohibitive 
     mitigation requirements associated with either alternative, a 
     third alternative was developed by the City and residents in 
     the community. This alternative would consist of a diversion 
     structure, an underground bypass channel, a floodwall, and 
     the creation of a wetland-flood basin.
       The City and the Corps now propose to restore the tidally-
     influenced, freshwater wetlands associated with the lower 
     reach of San Pedro Creek to provide flood control in the 
     Linda Mar District of Pacifica. The restoration design as 
     proposed will restore 10.1 acres of one of the rarest wetland 
     types on the Pacific coast of North America. The project will 
     also enhance a significant fisheries resource, i.e., a 
     steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) run, and restore wildlife 
     habitats for migratory waterfowl and other associated 
     wildlife.
       Mr. Chairman, the San Pedro Creek Wetlands Restoration and 
     Flood Control Project

[[Page E753]]

     is truly a local and federal government partnership model. As 
     of March 1997, the federal government has invested over 
     $600,000 toward the development of a solution to flooding 
     problems in the Linda Mar district of the City of Pacifica. 
     The City of Pacifica has contributed $537,000. These funds 
     have been used to complete the planning phases of study for 
     the proposed project. In order to complete the project, a 
     final design phase will be required. This will be followed by 
     acquisition of real estate by the City and construction of 
     the project. The City plans to invest $13 million in real 
     estate acquisition and $475,000 in design and construction. 
     The Federal contribution for design and construction is 
     estimated to be only $4.425 million.
       Mr. Chairman, I would like to provide you with an update on 
     the future actions that are necessary to complete this very 
     important and much-needed flood control project. The 
     technical analysis is essentially complete for the San Pedro 
     Creek flood Control feasibility study. Completion of the 
     Environmental impact Statement Report (EIS/R) and main report 
     is contingent upon receipt of the US Fish and Wildlife 
     Service biological opinion regarding the potential impact on 
     the recently listed California red-legged frog. Recent 
     communications with the Fish and Wildlife Service indicated 
     no significant changes to the proposed design will be 
     required. The Feasibility Study and EIS/R is expected to be 
     completed in Spring 1997. It is expected that the initial 
     plans and specifications will be completed in the Summer of 
     1997. Construction is expected to commence in FY 1998.
       Mr. Chairman, during the recent series of devastating 
     storms and floods in the West and in California this winter, 
     residents in Linda Mar received alarming warning notices from 
     the City of Pacifica urging them to prepare to evacuate their 
     homes. Fortunately, residents were spared the heaviest and 
     most devastating rains of these storms and San Pedro Creek 
     did not flood. History tells us, however, that it is only a 
     matter of time until the next flood. It is imperative that we 
     provide funding for flood control before the next significant 
     flood. I urge the full funding of the San Pedro Creek 
     Wetlands Restoration and Flood Control Project.
       Mr. Chairman, I would like to address another project in my 
     region over which your Subcommittee has jurisdiction. 
     Although the Port of Redwood City is no longer in my 
     Congressional district (due to redistricting in 1992), the 
     continued success of the Port nonetheless does have an impact 
     on the economy of the region.
       As you know, due to the shallow nature of San Francisco 
     Bay, maintenance dredging of the Bay is necessary to ensure 
     safe navigation of ocean-going ships. The Port of Redwood 
     City currently has an authorized depth of 30 feet. It is 
     currently on a 3-year dredging cycle to maintain this 
     authorized depth. The most recent maintenance dredging of 
     Redwood City Harbor was completed in September 1996 to 30 
     feet. The next maintenance dredging is scheduled for March 
     1999.
       There is concern that the new, larger vessels which call on 
     the Port require more than 30 feet of draft. These vessels 
     are forced to light load and top off at other ports--
     significantly adding to the cost of calling on the Port. 
     There is concern that this will significantly reduce the 
     commercial viability of the Port. I urge you to support a 
     reconnaissance study to determine the federal interests, 
     costs, benefits and environmental impacts of deepening 
     Redwood City Harbor.
       Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your support and for the 
     opportunity to provide you with information concerning these 
     important projects.

                          ____________________