Breckenridge & Montevideo get funding through Energy and Water Bill

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson said today that his request for flood control projects in Breckenridge and Montevideo have passed the House. The Energy and Water Appropriations bill provides Breckenridge with $3 million for their flood control project, and Montevideo $1.8 million for flood control as well.

“We're not always able to get these requests through, so I'm pleased that I was able to secure critical flood control funding for these two communities,” Peterson said. “Finding the resources to help finish these key projects has been a top priority.”

After the floods in 1997, Breckenridge and Montevideo needed to develop permanent flood control plans. The Army Corps of Engineers has been working with these communities for many years, and due to a lack of funding and some administrative changes, these projects have taken longer than they should have. A large step was made today to give these communities the funding they need to move forward with construction phases of their projects.

“Although we're going to need more funding in the future to finish these projects and secure these communities, today is a good start,” Peterson said. “From here we will have to count on the Senate to add more funding to these and other needed flood control projects so that the funding can be protected in the final Conference Report expected later this fall.”

Because of the ACOE has a policy of “no new construction”, Breckenridge is unable to get any construction money from the AOCE budget. To move the Breckenridge project forward, the city must rely on other sources of funding.

The City of Montevideo also began studying their project in 1997 and have completed phase one of construction, but because of ACOE limitations they are also still waiting for funding to complete their project.

The funding provided in the House Energy and Water Appropriations bill is for construction of permanent flood control projects in both communities.

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