VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) — Congress has approved more than $22 million for a project aimed at rehabilitating the Lynnhaven River.

The funding is included in a $12 billion package of 34 water projects nationwide approved last week. The bill now goes to President Barack Obama.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project includes wetland restoration, underwater grass planting and construction of reef habitat for oysters and other aquatic species.

Greg Steele with the corps tells The Virginian-Pilot (http://bit.ly/1p7JoUZ ) that the goal is to increase the diversity of habitat in the river for a number of critical species.

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Information from: The Virginian-Pilot, http://pilotonline.com

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