[Water_news] 5. DWR'S CALIFORNIA WATER NEWS: AGENCIES, PROGRAMS, PEOPLE - 12/11/07

Department of Water Resources

California Water News

A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment

 

December 11, 2007

 

5. Agencies, Programs, People

 

DEVELOPMENT ISSUES:

No stopping growth in Yuba; County supervisors reviewing issues for 20-year general plan update - Marysville Appeal Democrat

 

FLOODSAFE ANNOUNCEMENT:

DWR to Hold Workshop December 12 on FloodSAFE California Contracts - News Release – Department of Water Resources

 

 

DEVELOPMENT ISSUES:

No stopping growth in Yuba; County supervisors reviewing issues for 20-year general plan update

Marysville Appeal Democrat – 12/7/07

By Andrea Koskey, staff writer

 

Growth is coming to Yuba County. When it comes, the Board of Supervisors wants development to be organized and focused.

“Growth is going to be in the south county because it’s closer to jobs,” Supervisor Mary Jane Griego said Thursday. “I think we need to finish and perfect what we have there. We need schools, retail and medical resources there. We need to plan and focus on an area before moving on to the next.”

This consensus came out of the first of four study sessions relating to the county’s general plan update.

“We are not going to stop any of the growth. What this plan does is manage it, we need to smart manage,” Griego said.

The county is working on updating its general plan for the next 20 years.

County officials expect the population to nearly double, based on Sacramento Area Council of Governments and state Department of Finance projections. Yuba County’s current population is roughly 70,745.

Supervisor Hal Stocker noted that with growth, regardless of where it is, there is still the obligation of providing public safety.

“We do have to protect the people that are already behind the levees,” he said. “My feeling is that growth in the flood areas depends on how we do with the levee repairs.”

County Project Planner Dan Cucchi said flood protection was a topic largely discussed by citizens during town hall meetings on the update.

“They wanted to avoid flood-threatened areas and said 200-year protection of the levees was very important,” Cucchi said.

Supervisor Don Schrader, however, said Yuba County could build out of the floodplain.

“Unlike our neighbors across the river, we have a choice to not build in a floodplain,” he said. “I think we should look carefully at where we want future development to be even with the levees fixed.”

Supervisor John Nicoletti said traffic is also a growth-related issue.

“Roads and traffic will continue to be impacted, and we need to deal with those,” he said. “We don’t have $150 million (for a bypass), but will we continue to cripple our infrastructure with oversized trucks or will we deal with the issue?”

Supervisors also addressed growth in industry in addition to population.

“I think it’s worth looking into setting aside land for an industrial site,” Supervisor Dan Logue said. “The key to this county’s future is bringing jobs to the county.”

WHAT'S NEXT
Yuba County supervisors will hold a second study session to discuss sewage, water and other infrastructure at 2 p.m. Jan. 10 in the board chambers, County Government Center, 915 Eighth St., Marysville.

http://www.appeal-democrat.com/news/county_57461___article.html/growth_need.html

 

 

FLOODSAFE ANNOUNCEMENT:

DWR to Hold Workshop on FloodSAFE California Contracts

News Release – Department of Water Resources – 12/11/07

Contacts: Ricardo Pineda, Chief, Floodplain Management Branch (916) 574-1475; M. Elizabeth Scott, DWR Information Officer (916) 653-097

 

Sacramento - The Department of Water Resources (DWR) will hold a pre-advertisement workshop for prospective FloodSAFE California consultants on Wednesday, December 12.  The workshop will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Secretary of State Building Auditorium at 1500 11^th Street, Sacramento.

 

DWR staff will present information on upcoming consulting contracts with an emphasis on large-scale planning efforts and the necessary support services expected to be required to conduct the planning.  The presentation will include information on likely types of work, need for specific services, and timing. Following the presentation, staff will be available to answer general questions.

 

The workshop is open to any interested firm or individual. Attendance is not required for submittal of bids/proposals for the anticipated contract work, and will not satisfy any requirement to attend future mandatory pre-bid conferences.

 

The State of California has begun the long process to improve flood management systems statewide.  In 2006, the Administration launched FloodSAFE California, a multi-faceted initiative to improve public safety through integrated flood management. 

 

Accomplishing the vision of FloodSAFE will require broad participation from residents, businesses, non-governmental organizations, and local, state, and federal agencies.  DWR will provide leadership and will collaborate with a large group of partners and other participants statewide to improve flood management and emergency response throughout California. 

 

A great deal of work must be done quickly in order to fulfill the goals of FloodSAFE California. This will require DWR to rely heavily on consultant support.  For additional information about the workshop, please contact Ricardo Pineda at (916) 574-1475 or rpineda@water.ca.gov.

The Department of Water Resources operates and maintains the State Water Project, provides dam safety and flood control and inspection services, assists local water districts in water management and water conservation planning, and plans for future statewide water needs.

www.water.ca.gov

DWR's California Water News is distributed to California Department of Water Resources management and staff, for information purposes, by the DWR Public Affairs Office. For reader's services, including new subscriptions, temporary cancellations and address changes, please use the online page: http://listhost2.water.ca.gov/mailman/listinfo/water_news. DWR operates and maintains the State Water Project, provides dam safety and flood control and inspection services, assists local water districts in water management and water conservation planning, and plans for future statewide water needs. Inclusion of materials is not to be construed as an endorsement of any programs, projects, or viewpoints by the Department or the State of California.