[Water_news] 5. DWR'S CALIFORNIA WATER NEWS: AGENCIES, PROGRAMS, PEOPLE - 3/21/07

Department of Water Resources

California Water News

A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment

 

March 21, 2007

 

5. Agencies, Programs, People

 

NAPA FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT:

Corps finds $3 million more for ’07; Windfall allows Napa Creek studies while flood work on river continues - Napa Valley Register

 

North Sonoma County Agricultural Reuse Project Draft Environmental Impact Report, Statement Released for Public Comment; Public Comment Period Closes May 18, 2007 - News Release, Sonoma County Water Agency

 

 

NAPA FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT:

Corps finds $3 million more for ’07; Windfall allows Napa Creek studies while flood work on river continues

Napa Valley Register – 3/21/07

By Kevin Courtney, staff writer

 

The Napa Flood Project received 3 million pieces of good news on Monday.

After lobbying by Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Tuesday boosted expected funding for the year from $11 million to $14 million, particularly good news for Napa Creek residents.

The Corps will have enough money next year to keep the Napa flood project from falling further behind schedule.

Napa Creek flood improvements can be designed this year without delaying progress of Napa River work, Julie Lucido, the local flood project engineer, said.

 

Project sponsors had been facing hard political choices. With too few federal dollars, the Corps could have continued planning for a river bypass channel or begun design of Napa Creek defenses, but not both.

With the $14 million, there should be enough money to do engineering studies along both waterways while completing construction of flood work between the Napa Mill complex and First Street, Lucido said.

“It’s good news,” Lucido said.

Linda Kerr, a spokeswoman for In Harm’s Way, the Napa Creek neighborhood group, said it would be a significant step if the Corps could begin designing creek flood defenses between Jefferson Street and the river.

“I’m very pleased, very pleased,” said Kerr, whose neighborhood has flooded eight times in the past 10 years.

Local flood project sponsors had resigned themselves to getting no more than $11 million from the federal government this year after Congress failed to enlarge the Corps budget for 2006-07.

Thompson, D-St. Helena, lobbied the Corps to find more money for the Napa project, which ultimately will protect the core of Napa from Trancas Street to below Imola Avenue from major flooding.

“The safety of our businesses and homes depends on continued funding for the Napa flood project,” Thompson said. “I really appreciate that the Army Corps of Engineers understands the importance of the Napa flood project.”

President Bush had requested $9 million for the Napa project in his proposed budget.

The Corps will have $14 million in new federal funds to work with this year as well as $6.5 million in local sales tax money that the Napa flood district will contribute to the federal effort.

The total, $20.5 million, is more than the Corps has had to spend in any year since the project’s inception in 1998. However, federal funding continues to fall behind what is needed to keep the project on schedule.

Earlier this month, the Corps announced that the project, originally planned to be completed in 2005, now is projected to wrap up in 2015. This assumes $15 million in annual federal funding.

The Corps will need larger congressional allocations in coming years to pay for the relocation of two railroad bridges and the construction of a bypass channel on the Napa River Oxbow. Constructing flood defenses along Napa Creek is estimated to cost $10 million or more. #

http://www.napavalleyregister.com/articles/2007/03/21/news/local/doc460127c15296d860701466.txt

 

 

North Sonoma County Agricultural Reuse Project Draft Environmental Impact Report, Statement Released for Public Comment; Public Comment Period Closes May 18, 2007

News Release, Sonoma County Water Agency – 3/20/07

Contact: Brad Sherwood, 707-521-6204

 

Santa Rosa, CA – The Sonoma County Water Agency (Agency) Board of Directors today approved the release of the North Sonoma County Agricultural Reuse Project (Project) Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).  The Draft EIR and EIS are now available for public comment.  The public comment period is sixty days, ending on May 18, 2007. 

 

The Agency and the U.S Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) are working together on the Project.  Reclamation provided grant funding for preparation of a feasibility study and environmental documentation.  Reclamation will serve as the federal lead agency under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).  The Agency is serving as the lead agency under the California Environmental Quality Act.  In accordance with CEQA and NEPA, the Agency has prepared a joint Draft EIR and EIS to provide an analysis of the potential environmental impacts on the Project. 

 

The Project would continue efforts to develop a recycled water supply for agricultural water users in the Russian River, Alexander, and Dry Creek valley areas.  The Agency has identified up to 25,000 acres of agricultural lands that could potentially use recycled water.  The Project would include the design and construction of storage reservoirs, conveyance and distribution pipelines, and pump stations.  The recycled water used for the Project would be tertiary treated municipal wastewater generated and conveyed primarily through the City of Santa Rosa’s Geysers Pipeline to the Project areas. 

 

A public hearing will be held before the Agency’s Board of Directors on May 15, 2007 at 10:00 a.m.  The purpose of the hearing will be to hear testimony from the public regarding the Project and the Draft EIR and EIS.  The Draft EIR and EIS are available for review at the Agency’s Administration Office (404 Aviation Blvd, Santa Rosa) and at regional libraries in the Project area.  An electronic version of the Draft EIR and EIS will be available on the Agency’s internet site (www.sonomacountywater.org) and hard copies will also be available for purchase for $70.  

 

Written public comments may be mailed to the following address:

Sonoma County Water Agency

C/O David Cuneo, senior environmental specialist

P.O. Box 11628

Santa Rosa, CA 95406-1628

 

The Sonoma County Water Agency provides water supply, flood protection and sanitation services for portions of Sonoma and Marin counties. Visit us on the Web at www.sonomacountywater.org.

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