Wilmington, N.C.—President Obama’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2014 (FY14) includes funding for ongoing projects in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wilmington District.
The $67.3 million designated for Wilmington District projects continue funding for conduct of studies and design, construction activities, and operation and maintenance of Federal projects. Under investigations, funding would continue feasibility studies on Wilmington Harbor improvements and preconstruction engineering and design activities on the Surf City/North Topsail Beach and Neuse River Basin projects.
“We are pleased with this budget proposal,” said Army Col. Steven Baker, District commander. It reflects some tough choices in an environment of fiscal uncertainty, but it is a $7 million increase from last year’s proposal, and will allow us to execute critical work throughout the District.”
The $15.1 million designated for construction funding includes $8 million for the Wrightsville Beach coastal storm damage reduction nourishment project; $6.8 million for Wilmington Harbor for improvements to Eagle Island and monitoring activities of this deep draft navigation channel; and $300,000 for environmental monitoring for Roanoke River Flood Risk Management project in Virginia.
The $51 million operation and maintenance budget continues work at the harbors at Wilmington, $17.8 million, Morehead City, $5.3 million as well as other shallow draft harbors and channels including the Manteo (Shallowbag) Bay (Oregon Inlet); and the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. The District’s five lakes and dams are included in the budget with John H. Kerr Dam and Reservoir in Virginia and North Carolina receiving $10.8 million, Philpott Lake, Virginia, $5.1 million, W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir, North Carolina, nearly $3.4 million, B. Everett Jordan Dam and Lake, North Carolina, $1.6 million, and Falls Lake, nearly $1.8 million.
Like each year’s presidential budget, this one begins a process that includes action by both the House of Representatives and the Senate, and results in an appropriations bill to be signed before final funding amounts are known.