The United States Army Corps of Engineers has increased its funding by $2.4 million, bringing to $7.7 million the federal allocation to support a major dredging project in Marina del Rey. Through this project, the Army Corps of Engineers, the County’s Department of Beaches and Harbors, and the Port of Long Beach are collaborating to meet the urgent safety and economic development needs of two local communities.
I’ve been working on this project in Marina del Rey for a long time, coordinating with our beach cities, the Port of Long Beach and federal agencies to find a solution that addresses the safety needs of our boaters and first-responders. I want to thank former Congresswoman Jane Harman and Congresswoman Janice Hahn for their support and the Army Corps of Engineers for their cooperation in understanding how important this project is to Los Angeles County.
This innovative agreement between federal and local agencies is a terrific example of government at all levels working together to solve regional issues. This partnership was a once in a lifetime opportunity and the timing is perfect – Marina del Rey needs to get rid of sediment and Long Beach needs sediment. This additional funding will also allow us to dredge out more sediment, increasing navigation capacity for our first responders.
All levels of government are facing tight budgets and I appreciate the great partnership that local and federal officials have shown in meeting a critical regional need. It’s been a long time coming and I’m thrilled that we have found an environmentally sound solution that saves millions of dollars, while protecting lives.