FISCAL NOTE
Date Requested: January 16, 2026
Time Requested: 04:01 PM |
| Agency: |
Highways, Division of |
|---|
| CBD Number: |
Version: |
Bill Number: |
Resolution Number: |
| 1355 |
Introduced |
SB469 |
|
|---|
| CBD Subject: |
Environment; Natural Resources |
|---|
|
FUND(S):
State Road Fund
Sources of Revenue:
Special Fund
Legislation creates:
Creates New Expense
Fiscal Note Summary
Effect this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.
The bill requires the DOH to dredge flood prone waterways.
Fiscal Note Detail
| Effect of Proposal |
Fiscal Year |
2026
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
2027
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation) |
| 1. Estmated Total Cost |
0 |
576,000,000 |
576,000,000 |
| Personal Services |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Current Expenses |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Repairs and Alterations |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Assets |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Other |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2. Estimated Total Revenues |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Explanation of above estimates (including long-range effect):
The DOH does not currently dredge waterways. Therefore, the costs associated with the
activity is unknown for the Division. The depth of sediment in WV waterways intended
to be dredged is unknown, and no rivers or waterways have been specifically identified.
For this estimate, the Division of Highways examined the cost of dredging the
Mississippi River to create this analysis. Dredging costs range from $20-70 per cubic
yard with substantial costs attributed to disposal of dredged material, and deposit of
sediment depends on environmental permitting and available sites. Sediment can be
deposited in pools within 800 feet of dredging site at the above cost of $20-70 per cubic yard. The overland transport and disposal of sediment is often more expensive than the actual dredging. To dredge 9 feet of a river, expected volume is 500,000 cubic yards per year. This is based on United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) dredging costs in 2024 of the Mississippi River in Iowa. A lower Mississippi dredging project by USACE is currently budgeted at $1.8M per mile. According to National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, West Virginia has approximately 32,000 miles of river. The estimate above considers 1% of these miles, at a cost of $1.8M per mile. 1% of WV river miles (not including WV waterways):
=$1.8Mx320
=$576,000,000
Memorandum
Please identify any areas of vagueness, technical defects, reasons a bill would not have a fiscal impact, and/or any special issues not captured elsewhere on this form.
Person submitting Fiscal Note: Jonathan Schaffer
Email Address: jonathan.w.schaffer@wv.gov