State Water Board Awards Stimulus Money to "Green" and other Clean Water Projects Awards Include Approximately $51 Million Federal Stimulus Dollars Projects Estimated to Create or Retain 390 jobs. Published on Jul 4, 2009 - 6:56:56 AM
SACRAMENTO July 3, 2009 - The State Water Board has OK'd approximately $83 million for a variety of projects to protect public health and the environment and create jobs for Californians. The funding includes $51.3 million in federal stimulus money. That money is allocated to California for clean water projects under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
The money announced is in the form of grants and ultra-low interest zero and one-percent loans.
"The State Water Board identified these shovel-ready projects so we can both get people back to work and protect water quality," said Charlie Hoppin, Chair of the State Water Board. "Even in routine years, we handle more than $200 million dollars in loans for these important purposes. This year, the need is more urgent and our staff started early to identify potential recipients so that we can distribute the federal money quickly and responsibly. California has a verified need and we have validated applications for more dollars than are currently available. We will put any additional funds to good use quickly and efficiently."
As of these projects, the state Water Board has now allocated over $93 million in ARRA funds to 31 projects. The Water Board approved the first Stimulus project the same day that it received money from the U.S. EPA.
Under the stimulus program the State Water Board is handling $270.5 million in addition to more than $200 million normally loaned by the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) each year.
Six projects approved for the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (Agency) in San Bernardino County are the first California stimulus projects designated as "green". At least 20% of the funds provided under the Recovery Act are to be used for green infrastructure, water and energy efficiency improvements and other environmentally innovative projects. Inland Empire Utilities Agency's projects will help the Agency use its water resources more efficiently by expanding its wastewater recycling program. Two projects will help restore California water courses.
1. $10,518,231 - The Agency received $10,142,172 in ARRA financing at 0 percent a $376,059 1.0 percent loan. This project will install 13,000 linear feet of pipeline to increase delivery of recycled water in the Agency's service area. The project is estimated to create or retain 76 jobs.
2. $10,886,624 -The Agency received $10,473,863 in ARRA financing at 0 percent a $412,761 1% loan. The project will purchase and modify an existing water storage reservoir to allow the Agency to increase recycled water distribution within its service area. The project is estimated to create or retain 74 jobs.
3. $10,784,794 - The Agency received $9,697,925 in ARRA financing at 0 percent and a $1,086,869, 1% loan. The project will install 13,000 linear feet of pipeline to convey recycled water to the San Sevaine groundwater recharge site. Groundwater recharge helps ensure a reliable future supply of water in the Agency's service area. The project is estimated to create or retain 71 jobs.
4. $1,568,717 - The Agency received $1,518,255 in ARRA financing at 0 percent and a $50,462, 1.0 percent loan. The project will install 4,200 linear feet of pipeline to increase delivery of recycled water in the Agency's service area and is estimated to create or retain 11 jobs.
5. The Mission Resource Conservation District - $294,746 for its Arundo Control-San Luis Rey Watershed Project. The District received $294,796 in ARRA grant funding for its project. The project will restore approximately 2.2 miles of river in the San Luis Rey Watershed. The project is estimated to create or retain up to 20 jobs.
6. The Truckee River Watershed Council - $373,153 for Perazzo Meadows Restoration Project - restoring two sites of a severely degraded riparian zone. The project is estimated to create or retain 15 jobs.
Other recently-signed contracts for federal funding include:
Inland Empire Utilities Agency - $375,000 in ARRA financing and a $1.125 million 1.0 percent loan. The project will install three monitoring wells and two lysimeters to monitor the effects of recycled wastewater discharged to groundwater. The project is estimated to create or retain 11 jobs.
Eastern Municipal Water District - $9.6 million in ARRA 1% loan funding and a Clean Water State Revolving 1% loan for $28.8million - The project will increase wastewater treatment capacity to 30 million gallons per day at the Moreno Valley Regional Water Reclamation Facility to accommodate future population growth and increase the reliability of the facility. It will create or retain 25 jobs.
The City of Long Beach - $3.2 million in ARRA grant funding for its Colorado Lagoon Beaches Restoration project. The Colorado Lagoon will be restored by diverting urban runoff and trash, building a vegetated swale to capture pollutants, and cleaning and modifying an existing culvert to improve natural tidal flushing. The project is estimated to create or retain 10-15 jobs.
The City of Hermosa Beach - $950,850 in ARRA grant funding for its Strand Infiltration Trench project, which will divert storm water year-round from Hermosa Beach to protect beach water quality. The project is estimated to create or retain 10 jobs.
Santa Cruz County Sanitation District - $168,750 in ARRA grant funding for installing sewer pipe, manholes and sewer service laterals to existing homes on failing septic systems adjacent to Valencia Creek, a tributary to Aptos Creek. 16 jobs are expected to be created or retained.
City of Los Angeles - $4.3 m in ARRA grant funding for expansion of six low-flow diversion facilities. The project will upgrade the urban runoff diversions at six locations in the City of Los Angeles to help protect Santa Monica Bay beaches from urban pollutants. It is expected to create or retain up to 40 jobs.
Sierra Nevada Alliance - $196,561 in ARRA grant funding - to reduce common pollution sources associated with land use in the Sierra Nevada's. Watershed groups will identify problematic land use practices, participate in training, site evaluation, and development of ordinances designed to foster pollution prevention, and create educational materials for the public and policy-makers. It is estimated that 20 jobs will be created or retained.
The Recovery Act money was made available to the State Water Board by the U.S. EPA.
The stimulus money is available for projects in communities that might not normally be able to qualify for an SRF loan. The stimulus money is being granted or loaned at rates even lower than normally available from the SRF.
The State Water Board received the stimulus money on May 21, 2009 and made its first award under the program on the same day. It has been working with local governments and others to make sure their clean water projects were ready to begin work and qualify for stimulus money as quickly as possible.
The State Water Board assists local communities in preventing and cleaning up water pollution. Its financial assistance, through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, concentrates on wastewater (sewer) projects and treatment plants. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) regulates drinking water quality and operates the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund which provides low interest loans and grants to public water systems for infrastructure improvements.
By submitting a comment you consent to our rules. Please use your real first and last name, not a nickname or alias. Thank you.
