Major public projects require dedicated public leadership and it does appear the leadership on this one, by their own admission, may not be as able to provide it in the near future as they have been in the past; and while that is sad news, it has little to do with the soundness of the project to resolve the flood issues and degradation of the Parkway requiring the Auburn Dam.
Our report about the opposition environment surrounding the dam can be found on our website.
We continue to hope public leadership seeks optimal solutions to public problems and will continue so with this one, probably the most significant public safety issue our region faces.
Auburn dam returns to limbo
But Demos' new control in Congress expected to aid Folsom project
By David Whitney - Bee Washington BureauPublished 12:00 am PST Sunday, November 19, 2006
The Auburn dam is back on life support.
The dam's most ardent supporters concede that Congress' new Democratic leadership is unlikely to move forward with restoring funding for the controversial multibillion-dollar public works project.
"I recognize the political reality," said Placer County Supervisor Bruce Kranz, about turning his focus from building the dam to more promising matters. Kranz is chairman of the American River Authority, a three-county joint powers authority that a few months ago was touted as a possible local sponsor of a multipurpose dam.
The reality is that Democrats next year will hold key seats on the House Appropriations Committee, which, under Republican leaders, had been working to ship money toward getting the dam restarted.
In addition, the new chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which writes water project bills, is expected to be Sen. Barbara Boxer, a California Democrat and longtime opponent of an Auburn dam.
The political changes in Washington, however, should be helpful for more immediate Sacramento flood control needs, such as levee improvements and modifications to Folsom Dam.
Boxer, for example, would be well positioned to help push through Congress any new authorizations needed for Folsom Dam upgrades.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., is in line to become chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee panel over Interior Department, Forest Service and Environmental Protection Agency funding, enhancing her influence over issues like flood control.
On the House side, Rep. Jim Oberstar, D-Minn., is to assume control of the powerful Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where battles over authorization of water projects are fought out. Oberstar will take over from Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, who had become a strong backer of the campaign to resurrect plans for an Auburn dam.
Of the turnover in leadership, Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Sacramento, said, "Obviously this is good news. All these people understand what needs to get done and what the critical needs are for Sacramento and California."
Just six months ago, the enthusiasm of Auburn dam proponents had reached a level not seen in a dozen or more years.
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jerry Lewis, R-Redlands, signaled his support for an Auburn dam in a speech before the spring lobbying trip here of the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, declaring that the "era of big dams is not over."
In May, Rep. John Doolittle, the Roseville Republican who has championed building an Auburn dam, secured a $3 million earmark in a 2007 spending bill that would have jump-started a feasibility study for the dam. In addition, he won another $1 million to begin planning for a new Highway 49 bridge over the American River to accommodate the dam's reservoir.
Doolittle, who survived a close re-election battle Nov. 7, acknowledged in a post-election interview that progress on an Auburn dam would be one of the casualties of the election. So, too, would his Republican leadership post that put him in the position to secure major funding.
