December 12, 2024

HOYLE SECURES KEY DISTRICT AND POLICY WINS IN THE WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2024

Delivers investments in Southwest Oregon’s water infrastructure

For Immediate Release: December 12, 2024

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representative passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA). It authorizes U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (Corps) construction projects, studies and other infrastructure activities for U.S. waterways and ports. This bipartisan legislation includes key priorities championed by Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04). 

“I’m proud of this bipartisan work to secure and strengthen America’s infrastructure by making key investments in our ports, harbors and inland waterways,” Representative Hoyle said. “As climate change and extreme weather continue to intensify, these investments will help keep our communities safe and support new development and jobs across the Fourth District. I’d like to thank Chairman Sam Graves and Ranking Member Rick Larsen for leading this bipartisan bill and working with me to secure key wins for our district.”

Rep. Hoyle secured the following policy wins for in WRDA 2024:

  • Increases authorization to $100 million and makes Lincoln County eligible to compete for Southwestern Oregon Environmental Infrastructure funding.

    • Previous authorization only included Benton, Coos, Curry, Douglas, Lane, Linn, and Josephine Counties.

  • Ensuring apprenticeship programs are used in corrosion prevention work. This will enhance the quality and effectiveness of corrosion prevention work through certified training programs and industry best practices.

  • Increasing the federal cost share to monitor aquatic invasive species from 50% to 65% to help state funding go further; will support preventative efforts to address infestations of the invasive quagga mussel in the Columbia River Basin.

  • Study vulnerabilities along the Willamette River in Lane County to identify maintenance needs to reduce flood risks.

  • Requiring the Corps to:

    • Develop a plan forstabilizing a sectionof the Siuslaw Rivernear Florencethat began to fail in 2022, which could case signification damage to federal, city and private property.

    • Follow a Congressionally directed timeline to study the costs and benefits of ending hydropower generation at Willamette Valley Basin dams.

    • Evaluate a no-hydropower alternative for dam operations in the Willamette Valley as part of their ongoing system operations environmental review.

    • Report on the causes of turbiditythatimpacted drinking water in Linn and Lane Counties during the court-ordered reservoir drawdowns in the Willamette Valley in 2023.

  • Study vulnerabilities along the Willamette River in Lane County to identify maintenance needs to reduce flood risks.

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