Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
August 22, 2007
5. Agencies, Programs, People
FLOOD CONTROL ISSUES:
Lack of funding for flood control may leave Temecula and Murrieta up a creek - North County Times
Autry's support for river dries up; Some on City Council want funds diverted to expand Eaton Plaza - Fresno Bee
FLOOD CONTROL ISSUES:
Lack of funding for flood control may leave Temecula and Murrieta up a creek
By Nicole Sack, staff writer
TEMECULA -- A multitude of government officials, ranging from city council members from Murrieta and Temecula to
But as the two-hour meeting progressed and ideas were floated and discussed, the question, "Who is listening?" arose.
"We can talk and talk about the issue, but are we getting that message across?" said Murrieta Mayor Doug McAllister.
City Council members looked to county representatives. County folks turned to those at the federal level. Representatives of the area's congressmen and senators suggested the municipalities start applying for grants.
The only definitive advice was to keep trying.
"The purpose of the meeting was to bring everyone together so we could visualize, as a group, the impacts of the project," said Temecula City Councilwoman Maryann Edwards. "On the one hand, I am encouraged by today's meeting and, on the other, it is very frustrating to not just go in and fix this."
The need for flood control measures was demonstrated during a storm in 1993 when the creek jumped its banks and caused $20 million in damage to the two cities. In 2005, as a first phase of the project was completed, a storm caused flash-flooding that set back the work.
But getting federal money to proceed further with the project so that it would ultimately shore up a 7.5-mile stretch of the waterway through the cities is moving at a glacier's pace.
While the problems the creek can create are multifaceted, there seems to be a singular solution.
"The main topic today is that we don't have enough money," said Dusty Williams, general manager of the Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District.
Williams said as a result of the 1993 flooding the Army Corps of Engineers initiated studies on the creek. Those studies led to the 2000 Congressional authorization of $90 million for the project. A total of $11.2 million in federal funds were allocated for the project between 2003 and 2007. Williams was quick to point out the difference between authorization and allocation.
"Authorization is like if your parents promise to take you to
The Murrieta Creek Flood Control project is broken up into four phases.
The first phase, south of the
While the project was initially intended for flood control, recreational and environmental elements were later added to the plan. The third phase involves the construction of a 250-acre detention basin near
Chris Carrillo, representing Sen. Dianne Feinstein, said that to have a chance of getting actual money from the federal government, the region of
"Does having a 50-acre sports park undermine the project? That is a question that begs to be asked," Carrillo said.
According to the "optimal" schedule of the flood-control district, the construction of all four phases would be completed in 2014. But Temecula City Councilman Jeff Comerchero said the optimal schedule is more like wishful thinking and with the trickle of funds coming in, he said it would be more likely that the timeline would extend to 2025 before the work was completed.
"I know everyone is very well-meaning, but is the path we're on the right one?" he asked.
Comerchero said that compared to the cost of the project now, the cost would be far greater if a once-in-100-year flood occurred, considering how the population and development have boomed along the creek corridor.
Federal funds are being diverted away from projects such as Murrieta Creek to other works, such as the rebuilding of
Edwards questioned whether the flood-control project could be paid for locally instead of depending on the federal purse-string holders.
"What would change if we would fund this?" she asked.
"I don't know," Williams said. "It's never been done before."
"Well, in Temecula we're used to doing things that no one has ever done before," Edwards said.
She said there are no plans to take the project over and said there is a desire to continue to work within the "system."
But, she added, "We need to keep that as an option. Our goal is to prevent the same kind of damage we saw in 1993 and two years ago." #
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/08/22/news/californian/4_03_158_21_07.txt
Autry's support for river dries up; Some on City Council want funds diverted to expand Eaton Plaza
By Matt Leedy, staff writer
The Fresno City Council signaled Tuesday that support for Mayor Alan Autry's dreams for a downtown river is dwindling.
Some council members questioned whether the idea should be pursued much further before deadlocking on a proposal to divert about $1.1 million for a downtown river and instead use it to expand a downtown park.
Council Member Brian Calhoun wanted the money for
The vote on Calhoun's proposal was 3-3 with Council Member Blong Xiong absent, which means Autry's administration still has money for river studies.
Xiong was in
Calhoun and Council Member Mike Dages were the harshest critics of Autry's plan to have a man-made river spanning six blocks bordered by
Calhoun said his spending plan was meant to help finish the long-delayed
"We're not going to deal with the river."
Although Calhoun couldn't win the votes he needed Tuesday, the council did back one of his
There have been plans to turn about 4.2 acres next to the water tower into a park since 1947, but only the southwest corner of
In 1966, city leaders came up with an expansion plan. Eighteen years later, there was another expansion plan to add large fountains, trees and additional park space.
Dages said completing
"I don't believe in a river downtown. I do believe in
Council President Henry T. Perea, who supported diverting the river money to
Even Council Member Jerry Duncan, who voted against Calhoun's proposal, was critical of the river idea.
"I can't see this ever happening,"
The deadlocked vote kept $1.1 million in a contingency fund for studies that will measure environmental effects of a river and determine where it would be built, how much it will cost and how it would be paid for.
Before the money can be spent, however, five council members must agree to move it out of the contingency fund. Tuesday's discussion showed how difficult that could be.
Assistant City Manager Jon Ruiz said the administration could have a river presentation ready in about two months.
"Our responsibility is to show what economic impact a river could have. How it could become a destination downtown. And how it will fit into a broader plan for downtown," said Ruiz, who conceded the river appears to be a tough sell for the council.
"I think there's some challenges with it. It is a bold and brash project and ... different people have different priorities." #
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