SACRAMENTO, Calif. – If Congress does not pass a funding bill to continue federal government operations, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District projects and recreation parks will temporarily continue to operate using remaining prior year funding.
The Corps is unique among federal agencies in that it is funded mostly through individual projects that carry over from year to year. Nearly all Sacramento District projects have enough remaining funding for work to continue at least a few days. If the lack of an appropriations bill continues for more than a few days, the district will continue to evaluate remaining funds and adjust operations accordingly.
“These are important projects to improve safety for our communities, and we’re going to keep working on them as long as we possibly can,” said Sacramento District commander, Col. Mike Farrell. “We’re still hopeful Congress will pass a spending bill, and we’re doing everything we can to minimize any impacts of a funding lapse to our work and our workforce.”
The district’s 10 recreation parks in California – including Martis Creek Lake in Truckee; Englebright Lake in Smartsville; Black Butte Lake in Orland; New Hogan Lake in Valley Springs; Stanislaus River Parks in Oakdale; Eastman Lake and Hensley Lake near Madera; Pine Flat Lake in Sanger; Success Lake in Porterville; and Lake Kaweah in Lemon Cove – will remain open as long as funding holds out.
If a funding bill is not passed by Oct. 1, the district’s 22 employees funded by a specific Department of the Army appropriation will be immediately furloughed, but the remaining district staff (approximately 980) will stay on the job as long as project funding remains. If funding runs out, only staff essential to public safety work like dam operations and emergency response readiness will continue to work.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District provides planning, engineering, project management, environmental restoration and construction services to military and civilian customers in parts of eight western states, including California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon and Wyoming.
Release no. 13-073