WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., announced Tuesday that the U.S. Senate has given final approval to the FY 2010 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill. That bill includes $111 million in funding for flood control projects in West Virginia, including $82 million for the Bluestone Dam.

Byrd said the Bluestone Day funding will continue work to stabilize the dam in Hinton which does not meet current safety standards. Byrd said the project will keep more than 115,000 people and property in excess of $6.5 billion out of harm's way.

In addition to the Bluestone Dam funding, several other projects in southern West Virginia received appropriations through the bill, those include:

Marlinton Flood Control Project- $1.4 million dollars to develop a flood control project on the Greenbrier River in Marlinton, consisting of a combination of levees and flood walls.

McDowell Co. Tug Fork Flood Control Project- $2.75 million to continue work associated with the flood proofing or relocation of residential or commercial structures in McDowell Co. which are located within are located within the 100-year floodplain or were impacted by the floods of 1977, 2001 and 2002.

Statewide Flood Warning System- Funding of what could be more than $1.5 million to continue to install stream gauges and upgrade existing gauges across the state.