Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson, a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, today announced the inclusion $100,000 to initiate improvements to a wall channeling the Little Wood River through Gooding, Idaho, as part of legislation funding the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Simpson sought the funding in response to a request from the City of Gooding.

“My staff and I have visited Gooding on a number of occasions and seen firsthand the condition of the River Wall and the threat it poses to human safety and adjacent property owners,” said Simpson. “I have made the restoration of the Wall one of my priorities over the next few years and am pleased to report that Congress is making an initial investment in the Community’s effort to repair this structure. I want to commend Mayor Morton and the City Staff for their hard work and dedication to improving this structure.”

“The City of Gooding has been hoping for this opportunity to begin work on the River Wall for many years. I am very excited that the funding process has been initiated,” said Gooding Mayor Duke Morton. “We appreciate the hard work of Congressman Mike Simpson and his staff to get the ball rolling on this project. We are looking forward to the work ahead over the next four or five years to bring this project to conclusion.”

According information provided by the City, approximately 1.5 miles of the Little Wood River flow within Gooding city limits.  In the 1930's and early 40's the Works Progress Administration’s Civilian Conservation Corps constructed a masonry rock wall to channelize the Little Wood River in order to protect the city from flooding. Over the years, aging, high water, and ice jams have caused severe deterioration of the walls. Large portions of the existing lava rock walls that line the Little Wood River through the city are structurally unserviceable and many have failed and fallen into the channel. This rate of deterioration has increased at an increasing rate. The project will remove and replace the existing rock wall and the boxed culverts that severely restrict the stream channel flow.

The funding was included in the Fiscal Year 2010 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill. The bill funds programs within the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and a number of smaller independent agencies.

The bill now awaits action in the Senate.