Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
July 26, 2007
5. Agencies, Programs, People
FLOOD INSURANCE:
Flood insurance could surge; Rates will depend on Sutter levees meeting - Marysville Appeal Democrat
NEW HEAD FOR
Broddrick plans action for water association - Chico Enterprise Record
FLOOD INSURANCE:
Flood insurance could surge; Rates will depend on Sutter levees meeting
Marysville Appeal Democrat – 7/25/07
By Robert LaHue, staff writer
If
Sutter County Human Resources Director Ed Smith outlined what might happen in a memo to the Sutter County Citizens Advisory Committee on Flood Control Funding.
Smith’s memo contained data on local flood insurance rates from Edie Lohmann of the National Flood Insurance Program.
Most potential flood areas in
In these zones, which the Federal Emergency Management Agency classifies as moderate- to low-risk, buying flood insurance is not mandatory and the insurance is “bundled,” meaning residents can purchase an insurance package protecting both the structure of a building and the contents inside.
According to the data that Lohmann provided Smith, the lowest coverage of $20,000 for structure and $8,000 for contents costs $112 per year. The maximum federally provided coverage of $250,000 for structure and $100,000 for contents is $317 per year.
“Other coverage levels are available, but these are the lower and upper ranges currently available,” Smith wrote.
If the FEMA remapping of Sutter County currently under way determines that levees do not provide 100-year protection, which a large majority of those involved in local flood-protection issues believe will be the case, the areas will be moved into one of FEMA’s “A” flood zones. Smith said Lohmann believes this is what will happen.
“A” flood zones are considered high-risk by FEMA, and purchasing flood insurance will be mandatory for all new residents.
Residents moved into an “A” zone would receive a grandfathering on their flood zone information, but their coverage will still change because mortgage lenders will only require insurance on the structure. Content insurance will be purchased optionally.
According to Lohmann, the $250,000/$100,000 coverage that previously cost $317 per year would now be $1,251, a $934 increase.
The cost will be even higher for those who are initially purchasing flood insurance, possibly as high as $2,246 per year, a $1,929 increase over the current rate.
“We need to get the levees fixed and certified as soon as possible,” said Joseph Griffin, a committee member representing Live Oak.
The committee, made up of citizens appointed by Live Oak,
The committee’s next meeting is Aug. 8.#
http://www.appeal-democrat.com/news/flood_51681___article.html/insurance_county.html
NEW HEAD FOR
Broddrick plans action for water association
By Heather Hacking, staff writer
With statewide water issues heading to the top of
On Broddrick's plate will include efforts to build more surface storage, continued efforts to protect fish and habitat along waterways, and integrating management of both surface and groundwater.
NCWA is also involved with strategic planning including a $12.5 million grant from Proposition 50 which includes research, new wells, conservation and flood control. The water users group has also been instrumental in creating a regional water quality management plan under new rules from the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Board.
Broddrick currently is the director of the state Department of Fish and Game but will soon become executive director of NCWA, replacing David Guy. Guy left the post in June to head the Yosemite Association.
Broddrick worked for the Department of Fish and Game from 1981, advancing to chief deputy director. In 2001 he joined the regional office of Ducks Unlimited as director of conservation policy.
With Ducks Unlimited, Broddrick worked closely with conservation groups. During that time he also created a working relationship with NCWA including being one of the signatories of a plan for regional management of water, which pledged benefits to growers, the environment and statewide water users.
Vickie Newlin, of the Butte County Department of Water and Resource Conservation, said she believes Broddrick will bring "a balance between water users and other conservation groups."
"He has a history of working with diverse groups," she said.
Newlin was not surprised by Broddrick's job shift and believes he "wants to go where he can get stuff done."
California Rice Commission president Tim Johnson, said Broddrick has strong credentials in his work for the environment, including working with communities and within government administration.
He said NCWA is one of the "premier organizations in Northern California Water," and having Broddrick accept the post is "a real acknowledgment of NCWA's past successes and the future."
Ted Trimble, manager of Western Canal Water District, was also pleased.
"I've worked with Ryan for the past 10 years at Ducks Unlimited and with Fish and Game," Trimble said. "One thing about him is he's not a finger-pointer; He's a problem-solver. He looks for solutions that work for everybody," Trimble said.
With issues facing the north valley, such as regional planning and looming water problems, the state needs innovative thinking, "and that's Ryan's bag," Trimble said.
"Ryan has some big shoes to fill (replacing Guy), and Ryan is capable of filling those shoes."
Bill Jennings heads the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, a group that has been critical of agricultural water users and state water policy.
"I think he would be an improvement,"
"I think when he left DFG he had fought hard for fish but was continually undercut by the administration.
"He's a team player. I think he will do well at NCWA," he said.
"Personally, I like Ryan,"
Past NCWA leader Guy said he is confident Broddrick will continue on the path NCWA has built since the early 1980s, and knows Broddrick is intimate with
"Ryan worked on water quality, fish issues. He's been in duck clubs, walked irrigation ditches," Guy said. He knows the region. To me that's the most important part of the job."
"There's something unique" about
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