Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
May 4, 2007
5. Agencies, Programs, People
FOLSOM DAM:
Dam spillway plan passes feds' review; After winning bid is selected, excavation could begin this fall on flood project - Sacramento Bee
Levee panel renews money chase - Marysville Appeal Democrat
RIVER
Lathrop's
FRRPD celebrates anniversary of Riverbend Park - Oroville Mercury Register
NEW APPOINTMENT:
Yosemite park group replaces beloved leader; Resource executive takes job June 25 - San Francisco Chronicle
FOLSOM DAM:
Dam spillway plan passes feds' review; After winning bid is selected, excavation could begin this fall on flood project
Sacramento
By Matt Weiser, staff writer
The so-called "record of decision" was signed by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, concluding the project's detailed environmental review. Its primary feature is a new 1,700-foot concrete spillway with six submerged flood-control gates to be built next to the existing dam.
The two agencies have historically fought over major waterworks projects. But when initial construction bids for a previous design came in three times higher than expected in June 2005, they formed a rare partnership to keep the project from washing out.
They believe the new design, with an estimated total cost of $1.3 billion, is much simpler and faster to build. In fact, said Bureau of Reclamation spokesman Jeff McCracken, they expect to build it in half the time and save $1 billion over the earlier project.
"It's really a relief, and I think it's a very creative solution that really got us out of a bind," said Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo, who also chairs the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency.
The project would double
Voter approval last week of a property tax increase in
The partnership means construction can begin as soon as October using dam-safety funds held by the Bureau of Reclamation.
The Army corps, meanwhile, will seek additional funds through annual appropriations from Congress for the portion of the project dedicated to flood protection.
The Bureau of Reclamation plans to solicit bids on the first task -- excavating the spillway -- within two to three months, and award that contract by September.
"It just shows that when two agencies really work together and work with the local people, we can get things done," said Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Sacramento, who kept pressure on the agencies.
The previous design for dam improvements was much more complex, which partly caused the huge cost overruns. It involved enlarging the six existing flood control gates in the main dam, and adding two new ones. This involved specialized underwater construction methods, and the risky prospect of demolishing sections of a concrete dam while it continued to protect a population of nearly 1 million people.
By contrast, the biggest initial task associated with the new design is earth-moving. About 3.5 million cubic yards of dirt and rock will be excavated to create a trough for the new spillway. About half of this will be reused in other parts of the project, McCracken said.
Escalating costs for steel and concrete could still pose challenges for the project. But corps officials said they subjected their cost estimates to additional quality-control checks to avoid surprises.
The House of Representatives last month passed the Water Resources Development Act, which includes authorization for the project. That bill still needs approval in the Senate and the president's signature. Then Congress needs to annually appropriate money to fund the corps' share of the work.
"This is a more efficient project and, in a sense, it's a better project," Matsui said. "I realize it's still the beginning as far as the funding process, but it's really amazing the progress we've made so far." #
http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/167064.html
Levee panel renews money chase
Marysville Appeal Democrat – 5/3/07
By Robert LaHue, staff writer
A decade after a major effort to raise flood control funds narrowly failed, a
The general attitude: There needs to be money raised, it needs to be raised soon, and it will be a battle to persuade the county’s conservative voters.
“Hopefully, we’ll be more successful now than we were then,” said county Human Services Director Ed Smith.
“Then” refers to the failed Measures II and JJ of 1998, which were proposed sales taxes intended to raise revenue for flood protection.
This time, the local jurisdictions –
“It’s of critical importance to get moving on these levees in a timely manner,” Yuba City City Manager Steve Jepsen told the committee.
Consultants briefed the committee on flood protection needs and options to raise the local match. Engineering consultant David Peterson noted that even though most of the repair costs will be paid by state and federal funding, the money needed locally is significant.
Ballpark figures that Peterson called “very rough” put the local share at more than $100 million to get levees strengthened to 100-year protection.
There’s also not a lot of time to get the funding in place, with flood zone remapping – and lofty flood insurance increases without 100-year levees – looming over
“The real money is needed mid-2009,” said Peterson, who could not estimate the amount of money needed to upgrade levees to 200-year protection.
Financial consultant Robert Spencer said options to raise the local match include assessment districts, a sales tax, a parcel tax, or general obligation bonds.
Sales taxes tended to be the most common, Spencer said.
Yuba City appointee Darin Gale suggested that polling be done to better determine what kind of revenue source the public is more likely to support.
Joseph Griffin, a Live Oak appointee, suggested the group also get the word out on their activities as much as possible.
“We all can talk about the subjects we talked about here ... you might hear a good idea in that conversation, bring it back here,”
Fourteen of the 15 committee members attended the panel’s first meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for May 23. #
http://www.appeal-democrat.com/onset?id=47899&template=article.html
RIVER
Lathrop's
Inside Bay Area – 5/4/07
By Cheryl Winkelman, staff writer
LATHROP — In a win for the proposed
However, the state's Reclamation Board, which protects Californians from floods, may be responsible for the project's entire 300-feet-wide super levees, according to the tentative ruling in Sacramento Superior Court.
In mid-2006, the Reclamation Board approved permits that allow
However, four environmental groups, including the Natural Resources Defense Council, sued the Reclamation Board last August, alleging the effects of global warming had not been considered when the permits were approved. In addition, further study beyond the city of
Kate Poole, senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, said, "We won one of our claims (but) we disagree with the judge's findings with global climate change."
But, according to Scott Morgan, the Reclamation Board's attorney, "The argument that the global warming issues was new information didn't pass the court."
The Reclamation Board has been examining the
"You kind of can't come out at the 11th hour and say, 'Stop,'" she said.
According to court documents, the environmental groups argued that the super levees would not divert floods — which climate change makes more possible — but instead would push waters to neighboring areas.
Developers, though, are widening Paradise Cut, a flood bypass, to reduce
Dell'Osso said the ruling only applies to about 200 of the 11,000 homes planned for
Those homes are to be built on top of the super levee. The board is now re-sponsible for 75 feet of the levee, but the ruling states it "should have taken an easement over the entire structure of the project levee," Morgan said.
As such, the homes could have gone up beyond the board's concern, Morgan added.
Dell'Osso said she may appeal the ruling once it becomes final, largely because the board doesn't want to assume liability for the entire super levee. #
http://www.insidebayarea.com/search/ci_5816359
FRRPD celebrates anniversary of Riverbend Park
Oroville Mercury Register – 5/4/07
By Mary Weston, staff writer
The Feather River Recreation and Park District is celebrating the first anniversary of
"We are going to continue moving forward with projects," said General Manager Bob Sharkey.
On May 5, 2006, the park district had the grand opening for the park after a major renovation mostly funded by the California Department of Water Resources and State Water Contractors as an upfront project for relicensing of the Lake Oroville Dam.
Additionally, FRRPD, the city of Oroville,
Thursday through Sunday, a Midway carnival is operating in the park. Friday, FRRPD will have a lunch and butterfly release for students from
On Saturday, a Cinco de Mayo dinner will be served for $10.00. Casa Vieja will serve tacos, enchiladas and rice and beans for the dinner starting at 5 p.m. in the Municipal Auditorium. Virgin margaritas will also be served.
"It's going to be very kid friendly," said Kaylee Hunter of FRRPD.
The Oroville Pageant Riders will also offer pony rides for a small fee on Saturday. Also on Saturday, the Oroville Exchange Club will sponsor a kayak race on the
Sunday, the district will offer a Family Fun Day with a bounce house and games, including volleyball and baseball.
"Everything will be free that day," Hunter said.
Next weekend, the district has events scheduled for Feather Fiesta Days that are listed in the Feather Fiesta Days tab. Before the parade, there will be a groundbreaking ceremony for the waterfall in front of the Municipal Auditorium.
The new FRRPD mobile snack bar opens at Feather Fiesta Days. Bonnie Lombardi, former owner of Papacita's Restaurant, donated the mobile food concession to the district.
The Snack Shack will be in the parade and then offer food and beverages after the parade.
Besides
By June, construction will start at the north end of the park to finish Phase I development. A large shade ramada and a rest room will be installed along with a section of trail to connect the trail in the park with the bridge on Highway 162.
Additionally, trail linkages will be installed between the trail in the park and the
The Butte College Agriculture and Heavy Equipment class is working in the north end of the park on grading the area to prepare for installing turf for three soccer/multi-use sports fields.
"These areas will also be utilized for multi-use sports and special events," Sharkey said.
The soccer fields will be competition size fields with turf. In 2008, the Hmong Festival will be held there, Sharkey said.
The district is also placing a small shed in the park for a visitors center. Visitors can get information at the center about activities, events, recreation opportunities and businesses in the Oroville area seven-days-a-week.
"When we had the Wildflower Festival, we found there's a need for information about recreation opportunities, restaurants and outdoor activities in Oroville," Sharkey said.
The district welcomes volunteers who want to work at the visitors center.
Another small shed will house a Disc Golf Clubhouse that will be used by the Disc Golf Club that is forming.
By May 26, Greenline BMX will rent bicycles and kayaks in the park near the boat launch. This summer, the park will have a roped-off swim area with a life guard on duty.
On June 9th at 6 p.m., the district will offer a free barbecue at Nelson Pool called School's Out For Summer.
The district will also continue the annual events started last year, including the Fourth of July daytime celebration in the park and the Luau and Light Parade on the river on June 15.
The FRRPD staff and board have also been working on several other exciting projects that will be announced in the near future.
Despite opposition from select groups who have tried to stop every project, Sharkey said the district is going to continue building recreation facilities and implementing new programs and events beneficial to the community.
"People come to me every day and say you should keep doing these wonderful projects," Sharkey said. "They never say you should stop building projects."
"Progress in Oroville shouldn't be stopped by a small group of people," he said. #
http://www.orovillemr.com/news/ci_5814263
NEW APPOINTMENT:
Yosemite park group replaces beloved leader; Resource executive takes job June 25
San Francisco Chronicle – 5/3/07
By Paul McHugh, staff writer
Yosemite's soaring cliffs might seem durable, eternal. They are not. After Christmas of 2003, a slab detached from the landmark bluff Glacier Point and tumbled into
Steve Medley, president of the Yosemite Association (YA), seemed like a permanent park fixture, too. For the past 22 years, with trademark humor and verve, this former lawyer and park ranger guided the nation's most long-lived park cooperating association (founded in 1923) into modern times.
But, on the morning of Oct. 5, as Medley completed a long commute from his family's home in Oakdale to his office in El Portal shortly after a heavy rain, his Honda Accord unaccountably slid out of a line of moving cars near the Savage Trading Post. It left the road and smashed into a tree. Suddenly "Smedley" or "Smeds," as he was dubbed by a legion of friends and fans, was gone.
Today, rock lichen has patched the scars at Glacier Point, moss has grown in the cracks, and brush has sprouted in the bluff's new niches.
And, the grieving board of directors of the Yosemite Association today will announce a successor to lead the organization that Medley guided from 2,061 members to well more than 10,000.
David Guy, backpacker, backcountry skier and departing head of the Northern California Water Association (NCWA), will succeed Medley on June 25.
Guy, 46, who lives in Sacramento, said he has been coming to Yosemite National Park since 1990 and brings his family there for recreation between two and 10 times a year. He has stayed many times in Ostrander Hut to ski surrounding hills. Still, he did not run across Medley.
"I never met Steve," he said. "I only wish I had. I've heard many wonderful things about him.
"I've got nothing but admiration for what he did there. All the great relationships he had, with his staff and the community.
"There's always a certain nervousness you feel, starting something new. I can't replace Steve," Guy said, "but I do look forward to the challenge of building on his legacy. I'm going to tackle this, and try to make Yosemite a better place for
There are surface similarities between Medley, who passed away at age 57, and Guy. Besides a love of parks and outdoor recreation, both have three children whom their parents wished to raise in rural settings. Both had law degrees -- which can be useful during a crisis.
Medley, who worked as a park ranger and librarian before becoming a lawyer, soon discovered that becoming an attorney full-time was a mistake, recalled his mother, Hermie Medley, 87, who lives in
"Steve was all right with business law. But he hated doing criminal law, handling divorces, or disputes over children," Hermie Medley said. "However, right after he joined the Yosemite Association, Steve found he could use his law ability to help establish a place where they could re-introduce bighorn sheep. He was able to get the domesticated, grazing animals out of there. He enjoyed that."
Guy, originally from
"I love the law," Guy said in a phone interview. "To me, a good lawyer needs to be a great story-teller. When lawyers duel, they try to sell competing narratives to a jury or a judge.
"That's a skill I hope to transfer to this new job. What better tale could anyone hope to tell than the story of
Another skill Guy manifested in eight years at NCWA was an ability to unite major stake-holders and user groups in the sprawling
That initiative began to take shape before Guy's tenure, but he guided it to completion by 2006. He says he believes it is the first such plan developed on a large scale for a rural area. Because NCWA is a voluntary association, the agreement had to be achieved via persuasion and negotiation, not coercion or regulation.
Guy said he hopes to do something similar in the
"David Guy's energy is wonderful," said
One of Medley's great loves was the book-publishing arm of the Yosemite Association. It produced such enduring classics as "The Complete Guidebook to Yosemite," the new, "
After Medley's death, publisher Malcolm Margolin of Heyday Institute was tapped to keep books coming out. Both Guy and Tollefson say they want a stream of high-quality park publications to continue, augmented by modern products, such as MP3 audio tours.
An overhaul also is necessary on YA's faltering outings program. Its former mainstay -- multi-day, naturalist-guided hikes and camping trips -- has lost appeal in recent years. Shorter, more precisely targeted and seductive offerings that still interpret the park to visitors need to be devised.
In addition, park personnel are keenly aware that the services at Yosemite park itself need to be recalibrated to address
"We need to look for ways to improve park access, to provide a better experience for our visitors, and to make sure we stay relevant to the needs of an ever-changing population," Tollefson said.
It's a tall order to take the reins of an organization with a $2.1 million budget (raised largely through sales of its products), 16 full-time and 30 seasonal employees, and a core mission of teaching the public how to value one of
Guy also must step into the shoes -- or under the hat rack -- of a beloved leader with a fabulously quirky sense of humor, a love of dark chocolate and quality beer, a
"Everyone's reviving a bit, now. Sometimes, I still get numb," said Laurel Rematore, YA's membership and development coordinator since 2001. "I'll hear a car pull into his space. I go, 'Oh, he's here!' Then I realize, 'No. He's gone.' "
"Steve was extremely personable. He did so many things well. And he was in charge a long time," said Christina Holloway, chairwoman of YA's board of directors. "His departure was stunning. Losing him was a tragedy.
"But he built us something great. As we take positive steps forward, we can begin to feel excited about that again," Holloway said.
Beth Pratt, who was YA's vice president under Medley, said, "Steve was a good friend as well as a great boss. I'll miss him every day. But now it seems that out of this tragedy, a real rebirth is going to happen, and it will be fun and hard at the same time.
"The ways people connect to parks are changing. We need to adapt, and completely revise what we do. It's something every cooperating association is facing. If we figure it out, we can recapture our leadership role," Pratt said. #
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