Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
February 27, 2008
5. Agencies, Programs, People
LEVEE INSPECTIONS:
Seepage found in levees; Water leaks under Marysville barriers prompts repairs - Marysville Appeal Democrat
FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT:
City's flood control takes step forward - Vacaville Reporter
WATER AWARD:
Sen. Barbara Boxer's work on water bill earns award - Desert Sun
WATER POLICY:
Editorial: State's water strategy needs more than talk -
LEVEE INSPECTIONS:
Seepage found in levees; Water leaks under Marysville barriers prompts repairs
Marysville Appeal Democrat – 2/27/08
By John Dickey, staff writer
The state is finding some leaky spots in the ring of embankments that protect Marysville from flooding, the Marysville Levee Commission heard Tuesday.
Potential for underseepage — the flow of water under a levee — has been found at nearly all the locations the state Department of Water Resources evaluated, said Larry Dacus, an engineer with MBK Engineers, of Sacramento. He gave a report of the preliminary results from the state study.
"There are some underseepage issues out there," said Dacus.
Seepage refers to the flow of water through or under a levee. Too much of it can undermine the earthen embankment and cause it to fail during a flood.
In an interview, Dacus said about 70 percent of the Marysville levees will probably need some kind of work to fix seepage problems.
While that does not mean the levees will fail — they have withstood a number of floods despite the problems —it does mean the trouble spots would have to be repaired to meet new standards for levees.
New slurry walls would be the most likely fix because development rules out other options that would require too much land to be purchased.
More information is coming out on Marysville and other areas as part of a $35 million Department of Water Resources study of levees protecting urban areas.
Contractors for the DWR have drilled 61 holes in the top of Marysville levees and taken core samples in what is possibly the most extensive study to date. Eight electronic devices, called piezometers, have been installed to monitor water flow.
The next phase of work has started in which crews are taking core samples from the levee toe to verify the early results. A final report is expected by September or October of this year.
There are no estimates yet of how much it would cost to fix Marysville's levees to bring them up to the goal of protection against a 200-year flood, which has a 0.5 percent chance of occurring in any given year.
"It does give us some better preliminary information on the scope of work so we can start looking at some of the dollars," said David Lamon, the city services director.
The issues that have been found so far may not be new — a previous examination of the levees as part of an earlier Yuba Basin Project found about the same magnitude of problems in the 7.6-mile ring of levees surrounding the city.
State studies have also been examining Marysville levees for stability, erosion, settling and seismic analysis. The most serious problems so far, aside from seepage, are from possible erosion along the section that borders the
An examination of the patrol road to Hallwood, or spur levee, has found it is not high enough to block a 200-year flood, is not well maintained, and has seepage problems. #
http://www.appeal-democrat.com/news/marysville_60799___article.html/embankments_levees.html
FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT:
City's flood control takes step forward
By Jennifer Gentile, staff writer
The City Council advanced
The council approved the design concept and environmental assessment for the Encinosa Detention Basins project, which the city plans to build on 60 acres northeast of the
The Encinosa basin north is the larger basin and will be situated on the north side of Encinosa Creek at the end of
In a report, staff said that "the presence of wetland areas and other environmental issues were identified at the project site." Staff has been working with state and federal agencies, according to the report, to modify the project and reduce environmental impacts.
A declaration, which the council approved along with the project design, indicates that environmental impacts from the project could be reduced to a less-than-significant level. The declaration circulated through the State Clearinghouse for 30 days, and notices were sent to residents within 600 feet of the project site.
Staff explained that Encinosa Creek drains into Alamo Creek, which has been known to spill over its banks during heavy rainfall and cause widespread flooding. The Ulatis Drainage System Study, which was released in the fall of 2007, recommended that
"This is an important step in resolving the issues pointed out in (staff's) presentation," said Councilman Steve Wilkins.
He also praised staff for its work on the project, including "identifying where we need to situate the basins" so they would have the greatest impact.
In addition to City Council, several agencies like the California Department of Fish and Game, the Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife must also sign off on the project. The Department of Water Resources, Division of Safety of Dams, will have oversight of the design and construction of the Encinosa north basin because of its size.
The city is looking to obtain all permits by May and award the project in June. Construction could begin as early as July and be completed this fall. The $2 million project is being funded by a combination of grants and development impact fees, according to the public works director. #
http://thereporter.com/news/ci_8377888
WATER AWARD:
Sen. Barbara Boxer's work on water bill earns award
Desert Sun – 2/26/08
By Diana Marerro, staff writer
The Association of California Water Agencies gave Boxer, chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, its 2007 legislative leadership award for her efforts.
Timothy Quinn, the association's executive director, said the passage of the Water Resources Development Act was crucial for the water agencies across the state.
"Senator Boxer deserves our thanks and recognition for taking on this issue," Quinn said in a statement.
The bill, which Boxer helped write, authorized about $30 million for restoration of the Salton Sea, along with about $1 billion in
http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080226/NEWS10/80226034/1263/update
WATER POLICY:
Editorial: State's water strategy needs more than talk
U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein journeyed to
It's encouraging that Schwarzenegger and Feinstein teamed up across party lines to keep hope alive on one of the state's most pressing issues. But don't hold your breath waiting for results from Thursday's meeting.
There's been little change in
Even so, the governor and lawmakers must make progress this year on a comprehensive water strategy. It's urgent in a state where a growing population, climate change and a collapsing ecosystem in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta increasingly strain the water system.
Lawmakers should promptly pass a Senate bill that would appropriate $611 million from previously approved bond measures for immediate water projects such as repairing delta levees, improving flood control and cleaning up groundwater. The measure passed the Senate in January but has been held up in the Assembly.
Then policy-makers must give the go-ahead to restoration of the delta, which supplies water to two-thirds of Californians and irrigates much of the state's farmland. They should be guided by last year's recommendations of a delta task force.
Tight finances are just one reason why voters and policy-makers should be skeptical of an $11.7 billion water bond initiative the California Chamber of Commerce hopes to put on the November ballot. The initiative, backed by agricultural interests, calls for spending $3.5 billion on dams, reservoirs and other water storage.
The chamber is right to press for a comprehensive solution on water, but its proposal lacks bipartisan support - a recipe for failure at the ballot box. It also has been attacked by environmental groups such as the Natural Resources Defense Council. And the Legislative Analyst's Office estimates the bonds would cost
What's more, the chamber's proposal attempts to make an end-run around policy-makers. A long-term water plan should reflect bipartisan consensus between the governor and state lawmakers. Water is too complicated and too important an issue. The governor and the Legislature must not continue to duck their responsibilities for ensuring
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
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