President’s FY22 budget funds New England District flood risk operations and maintenance projects

CONCORD, Mass. — With the release of the President’s Budget for Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Civil Works program on May 28, 2021, the New England District received vital funding for continued operations and maintenance of projects and programs for the next fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2021.The budget provides $6.793 billion in discretionary funding for the Civil Works program, which is the highest annual budget ever proposed for USACE. It includes $3.445 billion for commercial navigation, $1.72 billion for flood and storm damage reduction, and $501 million for aquatic ecosystem restoration. In recent years, the Civil Works program has focused on the maintenance, repair and replacement of the key features of the water resources infrastructure that USACE owns and operates, and on the repair of the aquatic ecosystems that its projects have adversely affected.

In Connecticut, the FY22 budget proposes continuing funding for the operation and maintenance of the eight USACE New England District-managed flood risk management reservoirs and dams and the Stamford Hurricane Barrier. Additionally, the budget proposes $401,000 for maintenance work in New Haven Harbor.

In Maine, the budget proposes more than $1 million in funding for disposal area monitoring and $4.2 million for maintenance dredging in Searsport Harbor. The proposed budget also includes nearly $4.3 million for maintenance dredging in Wells Harbor.

In Massachusetts, the budget proposes continuing funding for operation and maintenance of the 12 District-managed flood risk management reservoirs and dams, the Cape Cod Canal and the New Bedford Hurricane Barrier. Additionally, the budget proposes $13.4 million for Cape Cod Canal navigation maintenance work, $2.7 million to fund maintenance dredging in Green Harbor, and $6,000 for a bridge inspection in Plymouth Harbor.

In New Hampshire, the budget proposes $6.9 million for continuing funding of operation and maintenance of the six District-managed flood risk management reservoirs and dams.

In Rhode Island, the budget proposes continuing funding for operation and maintenance of the Fox Point Hurricane Barrier and the Woonsocket flood risk management project, and $350,000 to fund maintenance dredging of Great Salt Pond. Additionally, the budget proposes $38.6 million to fund maintenance dredging of Providence River and Harbor, $350,000 for maintenance dredging of the Block Island Harbor of Refuge, and $500,000 to fund an investigation of navigation improvements in Little Narragansett Bay.

In Vermont, the budget proposes continuing funding for operation and maintenance of the five District-managed flood risk management reservoirs and dams.

Additionally, the New England District anticipates FY2022 funding from its higher headquarters for Regulatory permitting activities, the Continuing Authorities Program and other work. Proposed USACE FY2022 projects can be looked up by state. The FY2022 USACE Civil Works Budget Book is available online at: https://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Budget/, under the heading Program Budget: Press Books.