President Joe Biden signed into law a bill that includes provisions sponsored by U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce to provide $25 million in federal funding to fight shoreline erosion and pay for flood risk management feasibility studies for Mosquito Creek Lake and in Niles.

Biden, a Democrat, signed the bipartisan Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024 on Saturday. The bill provides federal funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to improve the nation’s ports, harbors and waterways.

Among the provisions in the bill is providing $25 million for the construction, repair, restoration and modification of emergency stream banks and shoreline protection efforts. Joyce, R-Bainbridge, was a lead sponsor of the legislation that he first introduced in 2021.

The funding was initially proposed at $20.5 million, but was increased to $25 million when approved by Congress, said Joyce, whose district includes all of Trumbull County.

The money will help fund projects that prevent damage to highways, bridge approaches, public works, churches, hospitals, schools and other nonprofit public services, Joyce said.

Joyce, co-chair of the House Great Lakes Task Force, said: “Each year, America’s shoreline communities face millions of dollars in erosion-related damages and property losses. Unfortunately, most federal programs aimed at mitigating these impacts are not well targeted to shoreline erosion caused by high lake levels. The (act) helps address this and spurs greater support for shoreline protection efforts.”

The law also authorizes more than 200 feasibility studies throughout the country, including Mosquito Creek Lake and Niles. Joyce was able to add the studies for Mosquito and Niles into the bill.

The Mosquito study will look at modifications to a plan for flood risk management and water supply, while the Niles study will be for a project for flood risk management, ecosystem restoration and recreation.

The House and Senate reached a compromise on differing versions of the bill Dec. 3.

The House passed the bill Dec. 10 by a 399-18 vote while the Senate approved it 97-1 on Dec. 18.

Congress has passed water resource development acts on a bipartisan basis since 2014.