As part of the omnibus/relief aid package, both houses of Congress included the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2020. The provisions would approve 46 new flood control, harbor, ecosystem and lock and dam projects on waterways across the country and would authorize the study of 27 more.  For California, the legislation includes projects as part of the WRDA:

  • Senator Dianne Feinstein’s provision which makes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant program for non-federal dam safety projects work better for dam owners and state dam safety agencies. 
  • A provision directing the Army Corps of Engineers to prepare a feasibility study on potential dam safety improvements to Oroville Dam.
  • A total of 36 specific studies and project authorizations in California including, among others, a Salton Sea perimeter remediation study.