On
February 26, President Barack Obama unveiled
his first federal budget
proposal. With a tally of around
$3.6 trillion for the fiscal year (beginning October 1), you might wonder how
exactly this money will be spent.
For those of us concerned with water efficiency and conservation, there’s
good news—several billion dollars have been set aside for resource management on
every level, from source protection to treatment, and from delivery to end
use. The budget is available online,
and below I’ve outlined some of the more relevant allocations:
* Provides $3.9
billion for the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, an
unprecedented Federal commitment to water infrastructure investment in the
United States
* Provides $475
million for a new Environmental Protection Agency-led, interagency Great Lakes
restoration initiative, which will target the most significant problems in the
region, including invasive aquatic species, non-point source pollution, and
contaminated sediment
* Funds the Agency’s
operating budget, which comprises its core regulatory, research, and enforcement
activities, at $3.9 billion—the highest level
ever
* Supports the safe
and reliable operation and maintenance of key existing water resources
infrastructure
* Improves Corps
project planning and program performance
* Advances aquatic
ecosystem restoration efforts, including restoration of Florida’s Everglades and
Louisiana’s coastal wetlands
* Conserves new
Federal and State lands, and protects endangered species with appropriations of
about $420 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, with annual
increases to reach full funding of $900 million by 2014
Let us
know what you think—what is the most
important aspect of this proposed budget?
Are there any areas that you think deserve more or less attention? Any omissions?