Auburn Dam: A Solid & Sensible Idea, Part Four

In today’s Contra Costa Times we learn the wonderful news that the Congress has added more money to study the relocation of Highway 49 so the planned multipurpose Auburn Dam can have room to store water; which will eventually allow the historic stabilization of the American River water flow and temperature to preserve the Parkway’s integrity for human use, and protect the salmon by providing optimal health conditions.

And, in a much larger sense, go a long way towards removing the flood danger in our region.

Here is an excerpt.

House committee advances revival of an Auburn dam The Appropriations Committee's energy and water subcommittee OKs a bill that includes $3 million to study feasibility By David Whitney McCLATCHY NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON - A key House committee set the course for the possible revival of an Auburn dam Thursday, voting to include $3 million on a feasibility study for the huge public works project as part of a spending bill that generally accelerates flood control work across the Sacramento area.

The measure also includes $1 million to update studies on relocating Highway 49 because the current roadway would be permanently inundated if a multipurpose dam is built in Auburn.

"These are just the first steps," said Rep. John Doolittle, R-Granite Bay, the architect of the earmark and a relentless supporter of a dam that would provide water storage, power generation and recreational opportunities in the population center of his sprawling district.

"But it is grand, after so many years, to be moving in a positive direction," he said. "This will do wonders for the region."

The money for the two studies was included in a $30 billion spending bill approved by the House Appropriations Committee's energy and water subcommittee. That measure funds the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.
Doolittle is the panel's vice chairman and its only California member.

Earlier this year, the subcommittee chairman, Rep. David Hobson, R-Ohio, endorsed a "dry" dam at Auburn -- one that would retain water only when the American River is in flood -- after participating in a flood-related helicopter tour of the Sacramento area.

But Doolittle said Hobson has come around on that issue to his point of view, and that the money to revive studying the feasibility of building a multipurpose dam was written by the Ohio Republican.

Inclusion of the money comes in advance of a report due in August from the Bureau of Reclamation updating cost estimates under a $1 million provision Doolittle inserted into the bureau's 2006 budget. Cost estimates have ranged up to $3 billion and more for a huge dam.