National water resources infrastructure will continue to decline if program funding for the Army Corps of Engineers continues to decline, a National Research Council report says.According to Fierce Government, the corps currently maintains 700 dams, 14,000 miles of federal levees and 12,000 miles of river navigation channels.
Geoff Whiting reports federal funding for the corps’ waterway projects has steadily depleted since the 1980s.
To make up for the shortfall, the council recommends the corps decommission parcels of its infrastructure for immediate funding relief, but added making that decision is outside of their their jurisdiction.
The council also suggested establishing new partnerships with private sector businesses and community and state governments, specifically citing how hydropower, flood risk management and ports and harbor maintenance can be advantageous for such partnerships.
