H.R. 7575 Bill Authorizes Key Projects for Water Improvement Projects in Northeast Wisconsin

The Water Resources and Development Act of 2020 (H.R. 7575) passed an important step in the legislative process this month! Passed unanimously out of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the bill is now expected to receive a vote on the House floor later this month. If the bill is passed in the House, H.R. 7575 would authorize projects that benefit Northeast Wisconsin including strengthening ports and harbors, inland waterways, and improve flood and storm protections.

Included in the bill are a number of provisions including:

  • Authorization for the U.S. Corps of Army Engineers to conduct a multipurpose study on the Upper Fox River and Wolf Riverwatersheds. This study identifies where flood storage structures can be used to reduce flooding impacts downstream. Flood storage structures improve water quality by filtering nutrients and preventing them from draining into the Lower Fox River and bay of Green Bay.
  • Authorization for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a study on the Lower Fox River basin. This study builds on an earlier study on storage capacity for flood waters in the Lower Fox River. If enacted, this would provide the Army Corps the authority to convene stakeholders for the purpose of discussing jurisdictions and developing a comprehensive agreement on the basin for the purposes of flood mitigation.
  • A 12% set-aside in the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund for the Great Lakes Navigation System. Previous legislation included funding for small harbors like the Port of Green Bay, but failed to sufficiently increase the funding to adequate levels. This provision increased the amount allotted to small harbors on the Great Lakes Navigation System from 9.8% to 12%.
  • Construction authorization for Brandon Road Lock and Dam and consideration of additional treatment and control techniques to manage invasive species. This would help prevent the movement of certain invasive species, such as Asian Carp, from the Mississippi and Great Lakes basins.
  • Clarification that natural and nature-based features can be considered when carrying out Small Flood Control Projects. This allows stakeholders in Northeast Wisconsin to gather data and develop a greater understanding of the efficacy and costs of nature-based solutions, such as wetlands, as a way to help with flood control.

The Water Resources and Development Act of 2020 includes projects that have been supported by local partners including Outagamie County, Representative Mike Gallagher, and the Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original 7/15/20 announcement from the Office of Representative Mike Gallagher