Corps Releases FY24 Construction Spend Plan to Reallocate Funds to Three Rivers Project
View SourceFebruary 28, 2024
CORPS RELEASES FY24 CONSTRUCTION SPEND PLAN
TO REALLOCATE FUNDS TO THREE RIVERS PROJECT
Today, the Corps of Engineers released a FY24 construction spend plan to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that reallocates almost $83 million (100% federally funded, as part of $2.5 billion provided by the infrastructure package) from $92.6 million provided to the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS) 12-foot deepening project to the Three Rivers Project. This funding will facilitate phase two of the contract that will bring this project to completion. Without the completion of Three Rivers, the MKARNS deepening project is rendered moot.
At today’s Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing, “Water Resources Development Act 2024: USACE Water Infrastructure Projects, Programs, and Priorities,” Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) Michael Connor announced the reallocation and committed to finding any additional resources needed to complete the Three Rivers Project.
The Inland Waterways Users Board approved a motion to reallocate funds between these projects at its April 13, 2023, meeting. The Three Rivers reallocation is a top priority for WCI in 2024, as approved by the Board of Directors at WCI’s February 6, 2024, meeting in Washington, DC.
WCI is grateful for Secretary Connor’s work to ensure this reallocation which will provide positive momentum to continue to advance and complete navigation projects.
The Three Rivers Project is centered on the confluence of the White and Arkansas Rivers with the Mississippi River, upstream from Montgomery Point Lock and Dam. The mouths of the White and Arkansas are at differing elevations and start to hydrologically merge during high water events. A breach would create dangerous crosscurrents during high flows and a loss of navigation pool during low flows.
