Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
February 1, 2008
5. Agencies, Programs, People
Leaders push for speedy levee repairs
Sacramento
Sacramento
By Deb Kollars – Staff Writer
The push to move faster follows the decision two weeks ago by the federal government to severely downgrade the area's flood safety level.
The Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency currently plans to complete a new round of levee improvements in Natomas by 2010. Some have said it could take even longer. 
But given the announcement by the Federal Emergency Management Agency that building effectively would be halted in the area because levees there are so unsafe, City Manager Ray Kerridge and others now want to finish that work at least a year earlier.
"If this is such a big emergency, why are we even talking about 2010, 2011?" Kerridge said. "Why aren't we talking about getting it done by 2009, as quickly as we can?"
Kerridge ticked off a list of steps he and others are advocating at the local, state and federal levels: invest more cash, streamline reviews, hire extra contractors and work longer hours, maybe even seek a declaration of a state of emergency to expedite repairs.
"On the contractor side, we need all the C.C. Myers we can get," Kerridge said, referring to the Rancho Cordova contractor widely praised last year for completing two massive roadway projects, including one on the Bay Bridge, in advance of contract deadlines.
The planned project in Natomas is the biggest levee construction effort in modern
John Bassett, a director of engineering for SAFCA and Natomas levee project manager, said Thursday the work schedule was as compressed as it could be.
It would be difficult, Bassett said, to peel off a year because of environmental and permitting processes, the size of the job and the inability to work on levees during winter and spring for safety and weather reasons.
"We think our schedule of completion in 2010 is very realistic," Bassett said. "Some say it is too ambitious."
Bassett said that when the levee project's main components are halfway done, the city will be able to apply to the federal government for a less stringent flood zone designation that could lift some restrictions.
Two SAFCA board members – Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo and Sacramento City Councilman Ray Tretheway, both of whom live in Natomas – said they supported speeding up the process if possible.
"Every winter we go without additional flood protection, we're leaving people in harm's way,"
Tretheway agreed: "It's worth an honest look."
Shortening the work schedule would require overtime and other costs, said James Sandner, chief of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District operations and readiness branch.
"If everyone agrees the acceleration in time is worth the cost, it would be possible," he said.
The campaign for faster levee fixes moved into high gear after FEMA said Jan. 15 that it would place the Natomas region in a flood hazard zone, likely final in December. The designation would mean all new construction or substantial remodeling would have to be elevated above potential flood levels – 20 feet in many places. That would be so expensive that it would create a de facto building moratorium.
The fast-growing Natomas area has 70,000 residents and vast tracts planned for development. City leaders said a building shutdown would be a severe economic blow.
Last week's news was the latest in a string of levee ups and downs for the Natomas community.
In 1998, an eight-year building moratorium was lifted when the corps certified the levees as meeting its minimal 100-year flood protection threshold, meaning the levees were expected to withstand a flood with a 1 percent chance of striking in any given year.
However, in July 2006, the corps said the levees did not meet that standard because of underseepage.
The following April,
On Jan. 15, the corps said new flood-predicting models indicated Natomas levees aren't strong enough to hold back even a 30-year storm.
Gregory Thatch, an attorney representing Natomas developers, said many property owners are skeptical of the corps' latest levee findings. But the question now, he said, is how to fix the problem as quickly as possible. He noted that the current housing downturn means plenty of construction crews are available.
"If lives are at stake, why aren't we out with the bulldozers right now?" Thatch asked. He suggested that some environmental regulations should be suspended to enable levee work to proceed more quickly.
James Pachl, legal counsel for Friends of the Swainson's Hawk, said he and others in the environmental community would object to such steps.
"They should not be setting aside environmental provisions, period," Pachl said.
Lester Snow, director of the state Department of Water Resources, called together city, state and federal officials on Jan. 17 to explore ways to bring safer levees to Natomas in the wake of the FEMA announcement.
Snow said Thursday the state is looking at ways to help, including contributing extra state bond funds to offset costs of a faster timeline.
"We are keeping the governor briefed and looking where our influence can be useful," he said.
Snow said he didn't believe an emergency declaration would be forthcoming. And he cautioned that engineers can't move so fast they put public safety in jeopardy.
"The worst thing we could do is hurry up and not fix all the problems and a big flood comes along," Snow said.
Kerridge said that in the next two weeks, city staff members hope to identify ways to shorten the time frame.
http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/679201.html
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