Some recovery funding will go to the Cosumnes River Preserve as reported by the PR Newswire.
“Today, the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and The Nature Conservancy of California announced they have signed the conservation easement for a $2.2 million project in the Cosumnes River Watershed, funded through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA). Restoration planning efforts will begin soon on the 600+-acre project.
“One year after the passage of ARRA, the Recovery Act is providing over $23 million for flood control and water quality work through NRCS in California, as part of public and private partnerships and contracts. President Obama signed The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 into law Feb. 17, 2009, to help jumpstart the nation's economy.
"This project is one of many in California designed to benefit the environment and boost local economic investment as part of ARRA," said Ed Burton, State Conservationist for NRCS in California. "This project will have a positive impact on the local community for years to come."
“The federal funding will reconnect a section of the Cosumnes River with its historic floodplain, improving wildlife habitat in one of the biologically richest regions in California's Central Valley, while providing protection for agricultural and urban lands continually threatened by flooding. In addition, the project will offer local job opportunities in order to complete the restoration work.
“The project places 617 acres and 1.5 miles of river frontage into permanent floodplain easement. Floodplain easements allow an increase in the area available to accept floodwaters at high flows, encouraging rivers to occupy their historic floodplain, helping to reduce floodwater velocities, improve water quality and increase wildlife habitat.”
