Wasington, DC -- Last night Congress struck down the $2.5 Auburn Dam project for the fifth time in a decade through a major bi-partisan effort.
The Auburn Dam restudy provision included in the Energy and Water Development spending bill would have delayed an imminent Army Corps of Engineers report on raising Folsom Dam and other operational measures to improve Sacramento's flood control. This provision would have held the City of Sacramento hostage for several years waiting for yet another study on building Auburn Dam to be completed before Sacramento could receive necessary flood control measures.
Congress recognized this provision as yet another attempt by Representative Doolittle to get his pet project moving. Auburn Dam has been repeatedly considered in twenty studies since 1960, and Auburn Dam has been proven time and again to be a misuse of taxpayers' money. Congress rejected Auburn Dam and related projects in 1992, 1996, 1998, and 1999, with the Bureau of Reclamation finding in 1997/98 that there was no federal interest in an Auburn Dam project.
Once more Congress has rejected the proposal. This is a major victory for the City of Sacramento and for federal taxpayers.
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