Army Corps, California and SAFCA release draft plans for $1.46 billion in Sacramento levee work

Published March 23, 2015

SACRAMENTO, California --  Recommendations for $1.46 billion in future improvements for Sacramento’s flood infrastructure are now open for public comment, described in two related reports by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District, state of California and the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency.

Both reports recommend seepage cutoff walls and levee raises for Sacramento River east levees and seepage cutoff walls and strengthening of Arcade Creek levees. The Corps’ plan also proposes erosion protection work along the Sacramento and American rivers; levee improvements along north Sacramento’s Natomas East Main Drainage Canal and Dry, Robla and Magpie creeks; and would add greater resiliency and flexibility to the system by widening the Sacramento Weir and Bypass. Previously-authorized seepage cutoff wall construction along the American River is scheduled to be completed in summer 2015.

“We’ve made tremendous progress together in recent years upgrading Sacramento’s levee system and Folsom Dam,” said Sacramento District Commander Col. Mike Farrell. “The proposed work continues long-planned improvements to modernize and strengthen the entire system, but it is just that - proposed. Now we need the community’s feedback.”

As with recent Natomas levee improvements, SAFCA’s plan recommends work that is in line with the larger-scale Corps and state proposal, and would begin construction in advance of Congressional authorization of federal involvement.

"SAFCA is pleased to be coordinating the release of its Levee Accreditation Project with the USACE's General Reevaluation Report and will hold joint community meetings with our Federal and State partners in order to provide continuity to community outreach so that residents can better understand how higher levels of flood protection can be achieved. Much has been accomplished in the last 25 years to improve the Sacramento area's flood control system; but much remains to be done to further reduce our flood risk. The flood control improvements proposed in these two documents reflect years of planning to achieve this goal,” said Rick Johnson, SAFCA Executive Director.

“The Central Valley Flood Protection Board is pleased to partner with the USACE and SAFCA in identifying the best plan for improving flood protection for the Sacramento community,” said Central Valley Flood Protection Board President Bill Edgar. “This joint federal/state/local partnership demonstrates the state of California’s commitment to public safety by reducing the risk of catastrophic floods in a fiscally responsible manner. We invite the public to review and provide comments on the environmental documents and to attend the upcoming community workshops planned in the month of April.”

The Corps’ American River Common Features General Reevaluation Report is available for public review and comment here. SAFCA’s Levee Accreditation Project report is available here.

Public meetings will be conducted jointly by the Corps, SAFCA and state of California to provide information and answer questions about the relationship between the proposed plans and broader flood risk reduction efforts throughout the region.

 Public Meeting Information:

Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Joe Mim’s Jr. Hagginwood Community Center
3270 Marysville Blvd
Sacramento, CA 95815
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, April 9, 2015
Sacramento Elks Lodge #6
6446 Riverside Blvd
Sacramento, CA 95831
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Tsakopoulos Library Galleria
828 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

 

 Friday, April 17, 2015
Arden-Dimick Library
891 Watt Ave
Sacramento, CA 95864
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.


Contact
Tyler Stalker
916-557-5100
tyler.m.stalker@usace.army.mil

Release no. 15-006