Kaptur Welcomes Federal Awards, Urges Comprehensive Approach to Water Issues
January 9, 2008
Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur welcomed the release of $2.2 million infederal funds by the U.S. Department of Labor to help in cleanup andrecovery efforts in seven Ohio counties that were hit by severeflooding earlier this year. The funds will be used to create temporaryjobs to repair property damage and also clean and reconstruct waterwaysthat were affected by the floods.
At the same time, Congresswoman Kaptur repeated her call for a comprehensive approach to watershed issues in the region.
“We live in what can be called the ‘water kingdom’ of Ohio,” Kaptursaid. “Our water resources are a tremendous asset, but they must bemanaged in a comprehensive manner. Earlier this year in Findlay, Iurged (FEMA) Secretary Michael Chertoff to take the lead in bringingtogether all the stakeholders in the region and I repeat that messageagain today.
”Without a comprehensive management plan for the Maumee Riverbasin, the flooding that devastated Hancock, Allen and other countieswill be repeated in years to come.”
Congresswoman Kaptur spearheaded creation of the Western Lake ErieBasin (WLEB) Partnership in 2005 as a collaborative effort between theNatural Resources Conservation Service (an arm of the U.S. Departmentof Agriculture), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and appropriate stateand local agencies. A partnership charter was signed in March 2006among 14 representative agencies and organizations with commoninterest: enhancing multi-purpose projects to improve land and waterresource management in the basin and promoting a healthy, productivewatershed.
In the wake of last summer’s devastating floods, FEMA in Septemberdeclared Allen, Crawford, Hancock, Hardin, Putnam, Richland and Wyandotcounties eligible for public assistance. Three of thosecountries—Hancock, Putnam and Crawford—will be eligible for assistancefrom the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services as a result of the$2.2 million award announced today. Workers who were affected by thesummer storms will be eligible for temporary jobs on cleanup andreconstruction of destroyed waterways and lands within the affectedcommunities. Cleanup projects are also being coordinated with the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service to prevent destabilization of streambanks andwaterways that would accelerate soil erosion in the farm-rich area ofnorthwestern Ohio.
At the same time, Congresswoman Kaptur repeated her call for a comprehensive approach to watershed issues in the region.
“We live in what can be called the ‘water kingdom’ of Ohio,” Kaptursaid. “Our water resources are a tremendous asset, but they must bemanaged in a comprehensive manner. Earlier this year in Findlay, Iurged (FEMA) Secretary Michael Chertoff to take the lead in bringingtogether all the stakeholders in the region and I repeat that messageagain today.
”Without a comprehensive management plan for the Maumee Riverbasin, the flooding that devastated Hancock, Allen and other countieswill be repeated in years to come.”
Congresswoman Kaptur spearheaded creation of the Western Lake ErieBasin (WLEB) Partnership in 2005 as a collaborative effort between theNatural Resources Conservation Service (an arm of the U.S. Departmentof Agriculture), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and appropriate stateand local agencies. A partnership charter was signed in March 2006among 14 representative agencies and organizations with commoninterest: enhancing multi-purpose projects to improve land and waterresource management in the basin and promoting a healthy, productivewatershed.
In the wake of last summer’s devastating floods, FEMA in Septemberdeclared Allen, Crawford, Hancock, Hardin, Putnam, Richland and Wyandotcounties eligible for public assistance. Three of thosecountries—Hancock, Putnam and Crawford—will be eligible for assistancefrom the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services as a result of the$2.2 million award announced today. Workers who were affected by thesummer storms will be eligible for temporary jobs on cleanup andreconstruction of destroyed waterways and lands within the affectedcommunities. Cleanup projects are also being coordinated with the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service to prevent destabilization of streambanks andwaterways that would accelerate soil erosion in the farm-rich area ofnorthwestern Ohio.