Millions Of Dollars Flowing To Wetlands Restoration, East Bay

NEWARK, CA — Congress passed a $1.5 trillion omnibus appropriations bill last week that includes millions of dollars for the Tri-City and the East Bay, according to the office of Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California.

"This funding will go to local governments and community organizations that are directly serving our neighborhoods," said Padilla in a statement.

One of the projects, the California State Coastal Conservancy's Resilient San Francisco Bay Pilot Project, assists multiple communities along San Francisco Bay. The Conservancy's proposal for the project includes using material dredged from the Oakland and Richmond harbors, Pinole Shoals and the Peninsula, and depositing it in four tidal wetlands restoration areas, including the East Bay's Eden Landing.

East Bay projects slated to receive funding include, in descending order of funds:

• $3.5 million for the East Bay Municipal Utility District's Upper San Leandro Drinking Water Treatment Improvement Project.
• $2 million for the 7th Street connection project in Oakland.
• $2 million for the Crow Canyon Road Iron Horse Trail Bicycle-Pedestrian Overcrossing.
• $1.7 million for the California State Coastal Conservancy's Resilient San Francisco Bay Pilot Project.
• $1.5 million for the city of Hayward's Stack Center.
• $1.5 million for a new fire station in Brentwood.
• $1.2 million for Oakland's Mental Health Resilience Project.
• $1.1 million to expand Contra Costa County's Mobile Crisis Response Team.
• $1 million for Contra Costa County to develop a crisis hub to provide mental health services.
• $1 million for the city of San Leandro water quality protection.
• $1 million for Veterans Memorial Buildings Improvements in Contra Costa County.
• $734,000 for a community responders program in Oakland.
• $500,000 for a transitional housing project in the city of Alameda.

"Federal dollars will support projects to modernize our transportation infrastructure and spur economic growth," said Padilla. "We are also investing in projects that will increase California's capacity to treat patients and deliver mental health services."