The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, has received an additional $56.02 million boost for fiscal 2021, including funds for beach renourishment in Ocean City, the dredging and south jetty rehabilitation of Fishing Creek in Calvert County, completion of engineering and design work to restore James and Barren islands, and more.
This funding is through the 2021 Work Plan, published Jan. 19, 2021, for the Army Civil Works Program, which is Congressionally authorized funding specifically for USACE in addition to the approximately $78.5 million in funding outlined in the fiscal 2021 Administration’s Budget for Baltimore District.
The Army Corps Headquarters, must submit a Work Plan to Congress annually after the release of the appropriations bill. Headquarters, working through the Office of Management and Budget, determines the allocation of these additional funds for the many Corps districts throughout the nation.
“These additional funds provide us the opportunity to keep navigation channels open safely and efficiently,” said Baltimore District Commander Col. John T. Litz . “This aids both national and local economies and helps restore critical Chesapeake Bay habitat for the more than 18 million people and 3600 species of plants and animals that live within the Bay’s watershed.”
Work Plan funding highlights:
Of note, the fiscal year 2021 budget includes $14.5 million for the continued restoration of Poplar Island; $4.4 million to dredge the Ocean City Inlet and Assateague Island restoration; $20.085 million for routine Baltimore Harbor maintenance dredging; and operations and maintenance funding for dams, including $7.967 million for Alvin R. Bush Dam and $8.12 million for Raystown Lake.