[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 58 (Friday, May 12, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E818-E819]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FRESNO METROPOLITAN FLOOD CONTROL 
                                DISTRICT

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 11, 2006

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Fresno Metropolitan 
Flood Control District for reaching a momentous milestone--its 50th 
anniversary.
  Over 50 years ago, the Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District was 
created in order to regulate flooding that had plagued the community 
for over 80 years. From the outset, the Flood Control District 
committed itself to managing the flood, storm, surface and ground water 
resources of the area with the goal of preventing property damage and 
personal injury as a result of floods. The agency works to conserve 
such waters for local, domestic and agricultural use. In addition, it 
seeks to maximize the public use and benefit of the District's programs 
and infrastructure. This has resulted in the use of ponding basins for 
recreational purposes such as soccer fields, baseball diamonds and 
parks. The district has generated 22 recreational sites, including the 
Sloan Johnson Oso de Oro Lake Park in Fresno, which serves to 
accommodate disabled children. This recreational facility has received 
numerous awards, including the Innovations in American Government Award 
from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
  With such a mission in mind, the Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control 
District has established infrastructure projects and completed systems 
in Fresno and its surrounding areas. These projects, valued at over 
$600,000,000, include 149 ponding basins, 57 pumping plants, 513 miles 
of pipeline, three dams, seven flood detention basins, two major stream 
diversion channels, 145 miles of natural streams and eight river 
outfalls.
  In addition to the creation of these infrastructure projects, the 
Fresno Metropolitan

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Flood Control District has worked resolutely for over 50 years to 
create programs such as ``Clean Storm Water'' that seek to educate the 
community on the importance of water resource management and the 
prevention of pollution to help protect and preserve groundwater 
supplies for the future. Moreover, many of its policies on outsourcing 
construction, professional services and maintenance of certain 
facilities have not only helped the flooding problems, but also have 
created countless local jobs as well.
  The Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District has had long standing 
and effective working partnerships with State and Federal agencies such 
as the California Department of Water Resources and U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers. The agency and its partners have created a successful model 
for cooperative interagency planning, management, and execution of 
local public works projects among the Fresno Irrigation District, 
County of Fresno, City of Fresno and the City of Clovis. Moreover, it 
has greatly enhanced the safety and quality of life in the Fresno and 
Clovis areas.
  For all its efforts, I would like to commend the Fresno Metropolitan 
Flood Control District. The organization has tirelessly worked to meet 
the flood control, drainage and water resource management needs of its 
constituency; while adhering to high standards of performance, 
environmental sensitivity, economic efficiency and maximization of 
public benefit. On this special occasion I would like to extend 
congratulations to the Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District on 
its milestone 50th Anniversary.

                          ____________________