$1.7M to finish SP Creek Project approved by full House

June 29, 2001
Santa Paula News

Santa Paulans no longer have to keep their fingers crossed: the last chunk of funding needed to complete the Santa Paula Creek project garnered final approval Thursday after a key House subcommittee approved the full amount requested by Rep. Elton Gallegly last week.

The Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development voted June 19 to allocate $1.7 million for a fish ladder for the Santa Paula Creek project, the last step in completing it.

By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesSanta Paulans no longer have to keep their fingers crossed: the last chunk of funding needed to complete the Santa Paula Creek project garnered final approval Thursday after a key House subcommittee approved the full amount requested by Rep. Elton Gallegly last week.The Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development voted June 19 to allocate $1.7 million for a fish ladder for the Santa Paula Creek project, the last step in completing it.On Thursday, June 28, the full House approved the bill, making the $1.7 million a reality.In 1999, Rep. Gallegly obtained $14.8 million for the project, which had been on the drawing board for over two decades.The $14.8 million completed the project to the point that it removed a flood hazard from most of the city and its schools; aside from flood hazard, the completion also eliminated a hefty $600-a-year flood insurance premium for many of the city’s residents.
“Santa Paula residents have been waiting more than 20 years to see this project completed,” said Rep. Gallegly. “I thank my colleagues for recognizing the importance the flood control channel has for Santa Paula residents and for acting on their behalf.”The House historically tries to follow the recommendations of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, which approved other funding for Ventura County projects requested by Rep. Gallegly, later also approved by the full House.Such projects include $17 million for ongoing cleanup of the Department of Energy site at Rocketdyne’s Santa Susana Field Laboratory, over $4 million for maintenance dredging and dredging repairs at Ventura Harbor and $400,000 for the ongoing sand bypass feasibility study for Ventura Harbor.For many years the Santa Paula Creek was a major worry during the rainy season: located on the extreme east side of the city, the creek caused several evacuations during the 1990s due to fears of flooding.The project, stopped in the past by environmental concerns which were finally overcome, still has not been without critics: residents whose property is adjacent to the creek but who live in the stretch not slated for improvements have been lobbying for more of the creek to be included in the project.



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