Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz (CA-25) released the following statement regarding the North Cathedral City Regional Stormwater Project.
“After seeing first-hand the significant damage caused by Tropical Storm Hilary almost a year ago, it is evident that our communities have taken significant strides to recover and rebuild,” said Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz (CA-25). “This $1.1 million in federal funding is just the start to ensure that the community has enhanced prevention of residential flooding.”
The Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) requested community project funding from Congressman Ruiz for their North Cathedral City Regional Stormwater Project. This project will construct a regional stormwater channel that would provide a connection from the north of I-10 to the Whitewater River Stormwater Channel (WWRSC) to the south. The storm flow from the north would be conveyed under I-10 and two Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) tracks to the existing WWRSC.
The design would collect existing flows passing under I-10 and provide a reliable and engineered channel under the UPRR that will provide a long-term solution for conveying flows downstream to the WWRSC. According to CVWD, the project will reduce flooding to approximately 8,000 acres downstream and improve flood protection for “lives and property in Thousand Palms.” The site is located approximately 130 feet southwest of Interstate 10 and 0.8 miles east of Gene Autry Trail.
Commenting on the funding announcement, John Aguilar, representing the Coachella Valley Water District Board of Directors, Division One, said, “Coachella Valley Water District, as a Public Water System and the Regional Stormwater Flood Protection Agency, is always undertaking projects to advance protection and services to the district. The North Cathedral City Regional Stormwater Project is a critical project to address regional flood hazards by managing and reducing stormwater flows that inundate downstream communities and critical transportation infrastructure. CVWD is very grateful to have Congressman Ruiz as a partner, and we are incredibly appreciative of his stewardship and advocacy for this project.”
Currently, the project will need an additional $9.3 million to build the proposed channel.
