Restoring Rivers Together: Corps Water Infrastructure Financing for Dam Removal and Stream Restoration
Marie Kopka
US Army Corps of Engineers, Corps Water Infrastructure Financing Program
Wauwatosa, WI
Dam removal has become a valuable method for restoring aquatic ecosystems, improving public safety, and addressing aging infrastructure. While federal grants have traditionally been sought for dam removal efforts, the Corps Water Infrastructure Financing Program (CWIFP), a new federal financing program, offers an innovative alternative for funding non-federal dam removals. Designed to address projects with ties to dam safety, CWIFP provides low-interest loans with long repayment periods and flexible repayment terms, making large-scale stream restoration efforts more accessible to non-federal entities including state, tribal, local and corporate entities.
This presentation will introduce the key features of CWIFP, including eligibility criteria, the loan application process, and strategies for leveraging the funding to achieve ecological and public safety goals. Attendees will learn how this program can be used to address the unique challenges of aging dams, such as mitigating safety hazards and restoring aquatic ecosystems, while delivering long-term economic and environmental benefits to communities.
By providing a sustainable funding alternative to federal grants, this program empowers communities to take on complex dam removal projects that may otherwise be financially out of reach. This session is tailored for stream restoration consultants, non-profit organizations, state, tribal, and local agencies working on dam removal and waterway revitalization projects. By the end of the presentation, participants will have a clear understanding of how to access and apply this innovative financing tool to advance their public safety and restoration efforts.
About Marie Kopka
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