To distant watchdogs targeting wasteful spending by Congress, some federal funds flowing to Southwest and Southside Virginia this year may raise eyebrows.

Such as $245,000 for awnings and infrastructure improvements at the historic farmers market in downtown Roanoke. Or $149,000 to control coyotes. Or $98,000 to expand the Bassett Historical Center.

Those are examples of targeted federal spending, or "earmarks," secured by the three veteran congressmen who represent Southwest Virginia -- Republicans Bob Goodlatte of Roanoke County and Virgil Goode of Rocky Mount, and Democrat Rick Boucher of Abingdon.

But other examples include $9.5 million for a flood control project deemed critical for the city of Roanoke; $3.2 million for a Virginia Tech research center studying technologies to prevent head, neck and chest injuries in combat; and hundreds of thousands of dollars to help small law-enforcement agencies upgrade their emergency communications systems. Information about the earmarks comes from a database created by the nonpartisan watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense.

The practice of directing federal spending through earmarks has been scorned by critics who charge that lawmakers excessively load up legislation with pet projects for their home districts.

But one person's pork is another's prize. And while Southwest Virginia's congressmen acknowledge flaws in the process, they also consider the earmarks directed to their districts important -- perhaps more important than an executive branch bureaucrat in Washington might realize.

"I frankly think the members of Congress are far better situated to understand the priorities of their districts," said Boucher, who has served in the House of Representatives since 1983.

Boucher has steered federal money to his district for major flood control and infrastructure projects, university research programs, targeted economic development, health care and public-safety initiatives. Many of his spending requests originate with constituents who attend town hall meetings in his district, he said. He makes all of his spending requests public, and said he does not seek earmarks "for any kind of private, for-profit entity."

"The requests I make for federal funds are in line with a priority that is expressed to me by my constituents" or reflect a regional need, Boucher said.

Boucher had a hand in $9.4 million worth of earmarks in the current fiscal year, according to the database. They include funds to upgrade emergency communications for first responders in Craig County, Alleghany County and Radford; enable Radford University to study the feasibility of creating a graduate school in medical sciences; and improve the runway and taxiway at the New River Valley Airport.

Goode, one of three Virginians on the House Appropriations Committee, has his name on nearly $36 million in earmarks. They include large appropriations for infrastructure improvements and defense-related research, and smaller grants to help with job training, business development and other initiatives in areas of his district that are struggling.

Goode sponsored a $2.4 million earmark for Sperry Marine Inc., located in Charlottesville, to upgrade ship navigation systems for the Department of the Navy's Naval Sea Systems Command. He also sponsored a $1 million earmark for NextGen Aeronautics, which is working to design a "highly survivable" unmanned aerial vehicle for the Department of the Air Force's research laboratory. Work on the project could be done in Danville.

As a member of the Appropriations Committee, Goode said, "You have an opportunity to get a little more on that committee than you do on some other committees."

But Goode isn't enamored of earmarks.

"I'm for doing away with them all, as long as it applies across the board to everyone, including presidential earmarks and having a broader definition of what an earmark is," he said.

Goode, who was first elected to Congress in 1996, said he avoided requesting earmarks early in his congressional tenure.

"My opponents ran against me and said, 'You weren't effective,' " Goode said. "If you're effective, they run against you and say you shouldn't get earmarks for your district. It's a Catch-22."

Goodlatte had a part in $12.2 million in earmarks, including $9.5 million for the Roanoke River flood control project in his district. Sens. John Warner and Jim Webb of Virginia and the White House also requested funding for the project, according to the database. Goodlatte also worked with Goode to secure money for sewer infrastructure improvements in Lynchburg.

Goodlatte said he places a high priority on those sorts of infrastructure projects that would be too expensive for localities to fund on their own. He also looks for projects that boost economic development.

"My test for that is whether it is something my constituents want and need, and whether it will benefit the district," Goodlatte said.

Like his colleagues, Goodlatte has also requested earmarks for Virginia Tech-related projects, including one with Boucher and U.S. Rep. Tom Davis, R-Fairfax County, for a research center that assists farmers in designing new crops and finding uses for agricultural wastes.

"They're a good research school, and research funding is something earmarks are often used for," Goodlatte said of Tech.

Tech pulled in more than $7 million in noncompetitive grants through congressional earmarks -- more than any Virginia university -- and another $5 million that it shares with other schools. The total includes funds for activities at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research in Danville.

"The priority would be new initiatives that could get jump-started that have promise," said Ralph Byers, Tech's director of government relations.

Projects range from targeted agriculture and natural resources programs to high-tech research with military and defense applications. Boucher worked with Goode, Webb and Warner to get $3.2 million for a research project at the Center for Injury Biomechanics, a partnership between Tech and Wake Forest University. The money will fund U.S. Army research of technologies that could reduce head, neck and chest injuries in combat.

Byers said Tech has "a rigorous process" for screening requests for federal research dollars and has forged good relationships with the congressional delegation and the government agencies involved in funding the projects.

"We don't see this as welfare," Byers said. "We see this as an opportunity to do something for the agency involved."

Data delivery editor Matt Chittum contributed to this report.