CALENDAR ALERTS

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July 23 - CVFPB board meeting, 8:00 am: Lookout Slough Hearing, Sac Weir Widening, Feather River RFMP

Aug 3 ​- DWR workshop, flood risk assistance for underrepresented communities, 8:30 am - noon

​Aug 13 - CVFPB workshop, 8:30 am

​Aug 27 - CVFPB board meeting, 8:00 am
Sept 7-10 – Floodplain Management AssociationAnnual Conference, virtual​​




COVID-19 ALERTS



  • ​Governor Allows Public Meeting Changes - In order to comply with social distancing directives, the Governor issued an Executive Order providing Brown Act flexibility for public agencies to comply with social distancing guidelines by allowing public meetings to take place electronically with board members participating remotely through teleconferencing.
  • ​Water Board Operating Procedures - On March 20th, the Regional and State Water Resources Control Board issued guidance on complying with regulatory and permitting requirements during the COVID-19 Emergency.  Due to water boards' role in protecting health, safety, and the environment, these agencies are considered essential services.​



LEGISLATIVE ISSUES



  • Governor Releases FY 2021-22 State Budget - On January 9th, Governor Newsom released a $225 billion fiscal year 2021-22 State Budget, which includes $183 million for flood management programs, $75 million in funding for critical levee repairs and $43.7 million for Delta resilience. You can learn more by reviewing the Budget Summary, a Five Year Infrastructure Plan, or dive into some of the funding details.
  • State Legislature Evaluates Water Bond Proposals - Two water bond proposals, SB 45 (Portantino) and AB 1500 (E. Garcia), are working their way through the legislative process.  The Senate bill proposes $5.5 billion of spending and the Assembly version is going higher with $6.7 billion.  CCVFCA is working to ensure both bills have chapters providing funding for flood control activities.  The Association of CA Water Agencies (ACWA) is also requesting these bond measures be amended to include funding for flood protection and drought projects in order to wholistically address climate resilience.
  • Congressional Representatives Lobby for San Joaquin Flood Project Funding - A letter supporting the inclusion of $36.6 million in federal funding in the President’s 2022 Budget Proposal for the San Joaquin River Flood Risk Management and Feasibility Study was submitted by local Congressmen Josh Harder and Jerry McNerny.  Moving forward with this project is critical for this urban area to achieve a 200-year level of flood protection by the Californiastatutory deadline of 2028.​
  • Governor Releases State Budget - On January 9th, Governor Newsom released a $225 billion fiscal year 2021-22 State Budget, which includes $183 million for flood management programs, $75 million in funding for critical levee repairs and $43.7 million for Delta resilience.  It also includes $125 million in Prop. 68 bond money to fund habitat restoration projects envisioned in Voluntary Agreements to serve as an alternative to increased unimpaired flows proposed in the Bay-Delta Plan update. 
  • Local Congressman Appointed to Key Resource and Infrastructure Subcommittee - U.S. Representative John Garamendi (D-Davis) was selected by his colleagues to serve on four key subcommittees that deal with helping communities be more resilient to natural disasters, including the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee which deals with water development, infrastructure, and conservation.
  • California Senator to Chair Key Appropriations Committee - Senator Dianne Feinstein announced she is the new chair of the Senate Appropriations  Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development with jurisdiction over funding levees for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation and other federal agencies.

CALIFORNIA CENTRAL VALLEY

FLOOD CONTROL ASSOCIATION

Learn more about legislative, legal, and regulatory flood control issues.

Resources and information for flood managers, elected officials, and those living in Central Valley floodplains.



Together in the flood fight -- since 1926.

3050 Beacon Blvd., Suite 203

West Sacramento, CA, 95691

(916) 446-0197

Melinda Terry, Executive Director



LATEST NEWS


  • ​Changes to Dredge & Fill - On April 6, 2021 the State Water Resources Control Board adopted a resolution to give it policy-making authority over Procedures to waters of the State via Water Code 13140 rather than the water quality control planning process.   Many stakeholders have expressed concern that the water board has exceeded its authority when it comes to the State Wetland Definition and Procedures for Discharges of Dredged or Fill Material to the Waters of the State (Procedures).
  • Beneficial Reuse of Channel Sediment is Studied - The USEPA funded a study to analyze whether sediment removed from flood control channels can be beneficially reused for restoration.  The study outlines beneficial reuse challenges for channel sediment, and identifying incentives for participation and potential solutions
  • Appeals Filed on Lookout Slough Habitat Project - Four appeals of the certification of consistency with the Delta Plan for the Lookout Slough Tidal Habitat Restoration and Flood Improvement Project were filed with the Delta Stewardship Council on March 24, 2021 by Reclamation Districts 2060 and 2068, Solano County Water Agency, Central Delta Water Agency, and Liberty Island Access.  The Council is required to schedule an appeal hearing withing 60 days.
  • DWR Proposes Delta Community Benefits Program - To address the significant social and economic impacts anticipated from the large water supply infrastructure facilities proposed by DWR, the department is developing a Community Benefits Program as art of its Delta Conveyance Project.  The intent is to acknowledge the adverse impacts from DCP construction activities and identify local projects to benefit the affected communities beyond the mitigation measures required under CEQA.  Three public workshops have been scheduled on April 14, May 6, and May 25th to receive input and ideas for projects (REGISTATION REQUIRED).
  • More Frequent and Severe Atmospheric Rivers Equal Increased Damage and Costs - An article summarizes research conducted using a catalog of atmospheric river events compiled by Scripps Institution of Oceanography’s Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes that were matched to over 40 years of flood insurance records and 20 years of National Weather Service damage estimates.  Their research warns that atmospheric rivers are projected to grow longer, wider, and wetter in a warming climate. 
  • Board Update of Title 23 Regulations - A multi-year effort to update the CVFPB's Title 23 regulations is nearing final approval and implementation. In November the Board submitted a rulemaking package to the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) for review. The Board held a public workshop on February 12, 2021 to discuss the changes in definitions and technical standards. A final regulatory package will be presented to the Board for their approval at either its February 26 or March meeting, with implementation to follow. 
  • Delta Climate Resilience Report - The Delta Stewardship Council (DSC) released a draft report, Delta Adapts for public comment that will ultimately guide the adoption of new climate policies in the Delta Plan, including development of a revised Delta Levee Investment Strategy (DLIS).
  • CCVFCA Board Member Accomplishments Recognized - The San Joaquin Engineers Council awarded the 2021 Engineer of the Year award to Christopher H. Neudeck, P.E. for his outstanding service to the engineering profession and the community.  A CCVFCA board member, Neudeck is Vice President at Kjeldsen, Sinnock and Neudeck, Inc., and a recognized authority on water resources and flood control in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.  
  • PL 84-99 Workshop - In early August 2020, the USACE held a public workshop on PL 84-99 and subsequently provided the slide presentation and Q&A.
  • CVFPP Focused on Reducing Flood Risk - According to a new nationwide flood modeling tool, the risk of flooding is significantly underestimated and warns that many areas in the country are unprepared in terms of flood planning, public safety policies, and legislative funding.  Fortunately, California has been more progressive and aggressive in its flood risk reduction efforts with the implementation of the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan.  Progress continues since first being adopted.  At the May Coordinating Committee, DWR gave a presentation on the 2022 update of the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan, including an overview of new data inputs and methodology for calculating risk analysis.
  • Flood Board Evaluates Establishment of SSJDD Property Assessment - At its April 24th meeting, the Central Valley Flood Protection Board received a briefing from consultants on the process to develop a feasibility study to evaluate the potential of re-instating a dormant property tax authorized in existing law for the Sacramento San Joaquin Drainage District (SSJDD). At the CVFPB virtual workshop in May, the board discussed an extensive list of potential services the new assessment could fund.  Consultants are currently engaging in outreach efforts to receive input from stakeholders on types of services locals are interested in.
  • Flood Board Approves Early 408 Review of Delta Conveyance Project - At the request of DWR, the CVFPB scheduled approval of a Statement of No Objection letter for the Delta Conveyance Project on its March consent calendar.  Approval of this letter would initiate early 408 review by the USACE on the SWP export tunnel project.  Early coordination with the USACE on large, complex, and significant alterations to the SPFC is preferable to ensure alterations of the federally authorized Civil Works are not injurious to the public interest or impair the usefulness of the federally-authorized project.  However, many Delta stakeholders, including CCVFCA, raised concerns that it was too early to start review of a project still at a 10% conceptual level of design after 14 years of planning and without an EIR available for public review.   The flood board ended up pulling the item from consent; and after public discussion decided to delay action until a later date.  CCVFCA and other stakeholders submitted additional letters when the flood board scheduled the matter for reconsideration at its May meeting.  After first receiving presentations related to questions raised in stakeholder letters, the board approved a new draft of a Statement of No Objection letter, but committed to provide regular updates on the 408 process at its public meetings.
  • Early 408 Review of Fremont Weir "Big Notch" Approved by CVFPB - At its May meeting, the flood board also approved a Statement of No Objection letter to allow early 408 review by USACE of a DWR project to notch the Fremont Weir and install an operable diversion gate to allow more frequent inundation of the Yolo Bypass to create food production for juvenile salmon.
  • ​​Drones Are New High-Tech Tool for Flood Managers - Staff with the Sacramento District of the USACE has completed training to pilot a new Unmanned Aerial System (UAS).  Weighing less than six pounds, the drone can fly up to 26 miles per hour for up to 45 minutes, making it capable of covering approximately 124 miles.
  • ​Homeless Camps Damaging Levees - The levees protecting residents and businesses in Natomas are being compromised by trenches being dug into them by the homeless building multi-unit tent encampments.  These temporary structures along the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers are also preventing local reclamation districts from inspecting levees for structural integrity or being able to floodfight in the event of a levee breach. The city of Sacramento formed a task force to seek solutions.
  • ​Searchable Online National Levee Database - Ever wonder which Central Valley project levees are ineligible for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) PL 84-99 funding (RIP)?  Ever wonder when the last Periodic Inspection report was done on a USACE project levee and what the results were?  Ever wonder what the official name of a particular levee segment is?  All this and more has been entered into the National Levee Database (NLD) developed by the USACE that allows numerous ways to search including finding reports on levees located within your state, zip code, or address.  Authorized by Congress in 2007, the database contains information to link activities, such as flood risk communication, levee system evaluation for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), levee system inspections, flood plain management, and risk assessments.  

Check out current CCVFCA members and consider joining the Association.