U.S. SENATE PASSES FLOOD CONTROL FUNDS FOR CAPE LACROIX

The full U.S. Senate Wednesday approved funding for the Cape LaCroix Creek-Walker Branch flood control project in Cape Girardeau.

Sen. Christopher S. "Kit" Bond, R-Mo., announced the Senate approved $10.3 million for the Cape Girardeau project. Several other Missouri water projects also received funding authorization this week.

The House of Representatives approved funding for Cape LaCroix Creek-Walker Branch project and the final appropriation will be decided in a conference committee.

But Bond said there were little differences between the House and Senate water bills, which should expedite the process.

"Since the appropriation has already passed in the House and now in the Senate, the funds should be on the way soon," he said.

Bond said the funds will allow the city of Cape Girardeau to continue its joint project with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to reduce flooding in the city.

"In the past, flooding in the Cape LaCroix Creek has caused extensive damage to the area," he said. "We can now move forward with the Corps of Engineers to prevent further destruction of businesses and homes.

"The city and residents of Cape Girardeau have shown their commitment to the project. Now channel modifications and construction can begin to reduce significantly the damage from flooding."

The city's portion of the $40 million Cape LaCroix Creek-Walker Branch project will come from a 10-year quarter-cent sales tax approved by Cape Girardeau voters in 1988. The tax is expected to take in about $10 million during the decade.

The city's share for the flood-control project will be about $9 million, with remaining funds earmarked for development at a dry detention site north of the city and other city storm-water projects. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will fund the remainder of the project.

Several other Missouri projects also received Senate funding approval Wednesday. They include:

$160,000 to expand a study of possible development of an industrial site along the Mississippi River in St. Louis County.

$370,000 for flood control work at Hannibal.

$500,000 to correct siltation problems on the Missouri side of St. Louis Harbor and improve docking facilities on the Illinois side.

$945,000 for engineering and design of a $42.6 million flood control project in the Riverside-Quindaro Bend District near Kansas City.

$5.77 million for continued construction of the Brush Creek flood control project in Kansas City.

$15 million for construction on the Blue River channel project near Kansas City, and $140,000 for a survey and engineering design for a flood control project involving the Blue River Basin.

$4.6 million for continued construction at the Truman Reservoir.

$125,000 for an on-going study of flood damage prevention in the Turkey Creek Basin in the Kansas City metropolitan area.

"This legislation will help Missouri improve water flow and productivity along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers," said Bond. "Approval today means continued economic development and environmental progress from Missouri's and our nation's waterways."