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Projects
& Studies ORVA Supports
With 2011-2012 Funding Status
ORVA is supporting seven projects/studies as shown in
Table 1. The major projects include the Ouachita-Black Rivers
Navigation Project, the three AR Lakes in the Basin including
Lakes Ouachita, De Gray and Greeson, and the Ouachita River
Levees. We have attempted for several years to get funding to
initiate the Ouachita River Watershed, AR and LA Study—the
Vicksburg District Corps of Engineers has expressed a
capability of $200,000 to conduct the reconnaissance study,
the first phase of a two part study process. We also are
attempting to get bank stabilization on the
Ouachita-Black
Rivers
and the lower 14,000 feet of Little River authorized as
project components of the Ouachita-Black Rivers Navigation
Project.
ORVA officials conducted a visit to Washington D. C.
during the period March 14-16, 2011 to meet with our
Congressional members and Corps of Engineers Headquarters
personnel to stress the importance of funding/authorizing
these projects/studies. As shown in Table 1, FY-12
President’s Budget amounts for budgeted projects are less
than in FY-11. The Navigation Project was reduced by $54,000
while the three
Arkansas
lakes were reduced approximately $3.0 Mil, or about 15
percent. Note the Ouachita River Levees were not funded. Also
shown are the priority FY-12 capability amounts that ORVA
supports be added to the budget. Chief among these include
$3.1 Mil for dredging, $6.0 Mil. for stop log slots at H. K.
Thatcher L&D, $4.2 Mil for increased customer service at
the three
Corps
Lakes
, and $5.6 Mil. for work on the Ouachita River Levees. It is
very doubtful that any of the capability items will be funded
in FY-12.
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