LATEST NEWS


  • Deadlines to Apply for DWR Flood Risk Reduction Programs -  DWR is accepting applications through January 25, 2019 for the Flood Maintenance Assistance Program (FMAP) recently established to provide funding to local districts for levee maintenance. Details about the eligible routine maintenance activities in accordance with O&M Manuals such as road graveling, rodent abatement, and vegetation management are described in the FMAP Guidelines. DWR is also accepting applications for funding from the Central Valley Tributaries Program through February 12, 2019. This program will fund multi-benefit flood risk reduction projects that 1) address flood risk for urban and small communities, and/or rural areas; and 2) enhance ecosystems by improving fish and wildlife habitat and water quality downstream. The Association previously submitted comment letter on draft guidelines for DWR’s new Central Valley Tributary Grant Program. .
  • CVFPB Adopts New Encroachment Fees - In November 2018 the flood board approved regulations establishing fees for encroachment permit and inspection. If the regulations are approved by the Office of Administrative Law, then the board staff anticipates the fees being implemented (collected) sometime in Spring 2019.
  • FERC Releases After-Action Report on Oroville Dam Incident -  The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission convened a panel to review and identify any shortcomings of the Commission’s dam safety program. Their report found that dam inspectors failed to identify structural problems due to overlooking technical details during safety evaluations. FERC will now determine how to address the recommendations in the report.
  • Feds Worried Oroville Dam Can’t Withstand Large Flood - Just as DWR announced completion of main spillway repairs at Oroville, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) sent a letter to the State claiming the dam cannot handle a mega-flood.  
  • Local Agency Turns 150-years Old - The Central Valley Flood Protection Board adopted a resolution commemorating the 150-year anniversary of the establishment of the oldest levee district, Levee District 1.
  • Nutria Control ​- The rodents of unusual size known as Nutria are a threat to crops and levees.  CDFW has issued protocols for identifying and reporting sightings of Nutria and best practices to prevent canal failure and flooding.
  • Making State’s Infrastructure Climate-Safe - A work group comprised of scientific and engineering experts released a report regarding making California’s infrastructure more resilient to growing threats of climate change.  It provides a framework for incorporating climate change impacts into planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of critical infrastructure.
  • Federal Agency Overwhelmed by Disasters - A report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) claims the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was forced to rely on uncertified workers in key roles when multiple hurricane disasters and subsequent wildfires in California stretched their staff beyond their limit. In a letter responding to the GAO report critical of federal emergency response capabilities, the Department of Homeland Security acknowledged the nation’s ability to respond and recover from multiple concurrent disasters was tested in 2017.  Unfortunately the report did not provide any recommendations for improving disaster response in the future.
  • Highlights of 2018 CCVFCA Flood Forum - The collapse of the Oroville spillway in February 2017 reminded us that all aging flood control infrastructure is vulnerable to catastrophic failure. With about 100 flood management professionals in attendance, speakers at this year's Forum discussed actions to be taken now to address deficiencies in the levee infrastructure and emergency response systems. Ric Reinhardt with MBK contemplated how a post-flood forensic report would end up when levees fail in a hypothetical future storm event. Scott Shapiro with Downy Brand reviewed the potential of deauthorizing federal levees. Association lobbyist, Bob Reeb, discussed formation of a Flood Caucus in the State Legislature and CCVFCA's budget request for annual $100 million General Fund appropriation for SPFC system and an additional one-time $400 million appropriation to fund repair levee damage in the 2017 storm events.
  • New 408 Guidance Released - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced completion of new Engineering Circular (1165-2-220) to replace existing policy and procedural guidance for authorizing alteration of federal works under Section 408. The Corps is conducting informational webinars, provided a fact sheet, and Powerpoint slides to explain the updated policy document. Comments on the new 408 policy is due March 7, 2018.
  • USACE Released Yuba River Feasibility Study - A draft feasibility report by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposes reconnecting the Yuba River to its floodplain and other fish habitat restoration actions. 
  • New Mitigation Program Available - The October Coordinating Committee included two presentations, an overview and pilot project in Yolo Bypass, on new Regional Conservation Investment Strategies (RCIS) program created by recent legislation. 
  • CCVFCA Comments on USACE Categorical Permission - Pursuant to a Public Notice by the USACE Sacramento District proposing use of Categorical Permission for certain minor alterations of the SPFC project, a CCVFCA comment letter supporting adoption of this new policy was submitted.  RD 17 letter was also submitted.
  • Report Recommends Oroville Dam Changes - A coalition of environmental, fishing, and river rafting groups issue report recommending 18 changes to the Oroville Dam, expansion of the Sutter and Yolo Bypasses, and updating of USACE flood control manuals.
  • DWR Evaluates Reoperation of Reservoirs - A DWR Phase III Report and Fact Sheet describes results from new operational strategies to increase water supply availability for CVP and SWP water deliveries.
  • Court Rules Schools and Roads Required to Pay Property Assessments -  In 2015, CCVFCA filed a brief supporting RD 17's appeal of lower court decision on flood protection assessments, so is pleased by recent court decision to clarify inconsistency between water statutes and State Constitution. A recent Third Court of Appeal decision concluded that schools and roads are no longer exempted from paying local property assessments because the Constitutional provision added by Prop. 218 supersedes other existing statutes. 
  • New USACE Permit Funding Proposal - USACE is proposing to accept funding contributions from the DWR to expedite processing of permits for SPFC & CVFPP projects. Submit comments on SPK-2017-00271 by April 25, 2017 to michael.g.nepstad@usace.army.mil.
  • DWR Discusses Sacramento Bypass Setback Levee Project - At the November Coordinating Committee, DWR described the flood reduction and habitat benefits of Lower Elk Horn project proposing to set back the northern levee on the Sacramento Bypass and the adjacent levee on east side of the Yolo Bypass.
  • Delta Plan Declared Invalid -  Judge's June 24th clarification ruling declares the entire Delta Plan approved by the Delta Stewardship Council in 2013, and associated EIR, are invalid and must be shelved until revisions are made in accordance with Delta Reform Act statutes to include quantifiable (numeric) targets for certain components, such as reducing reliance on the Delta.  DSC's initial declaration of victory in May was therefore premature, and Restore the Delta's claim that original May 2016 court ruling was a "bullet to the heart" was more accurate.  Now DSC must go back to the drawing board to re-draft the plan and EIR.
  • FEMA Disaster Deductible - DWR and CA State Association of Counties (CSAC) submit comments to FEMA on their conceptual proposal to require state and local government agencies to pay a deductible before receiving federal disaster assistance.
  • Flood Funding Fact Sheet - A recent PPIC flood funding fact sheet asserts that flood risk is growing in the Central Valley, but funding for flood management is not. The Public Policy Institute of California claims that at a minimum the state needs to spend $34 billion to upgrade levee infrastructure over the next 25 years -- $1.4 billion per year -- twice the current level of flood management expenditures.
  • 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.

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 for the flood fight -- since 1926.

910 K St., Suite 310, Sacramento, CA, 95814

(916) 446-0197

Melinda Terry, Executive Director

CALENDAR ALERTS

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​Jan 24 -  DSC Appeal Hearing on Smith Canal project, 980-9th St, Sacramento, 2:00 pm
Jan 25 – SWRCB workshop on diversion measurement, 605 N. El Dorado St, Stockton, 1:00 pm
Jan 25 – Deadline to submit application for Flood Maintenance Assistance Program (FMAP)

Jan 28 -  Groundwater Resources Assoc. two-day conference on atmospheric rivers for storage, San Diego 
Feb 12 -  Deadline to submit application for Central Valley Tributaries grant program

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LEGISLATIVE ISSUES


  • Flood Insurance for Farmers Act - Congressmen John Garamendi (D-Davis) and Doug LaMalfa (R-Chico) have reintroduced legislation, H.R. 830, to provide farmers access to discounted rates under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and lift the de facto construction and repair prohibition of agricultural structures in high flood risk areas designated by FEMA. 
  • ​Governor Appointments - Governor Newsom announced Wade Crowfoot as the new Secretary of Natural Resources. Crowfoot previously worked for Newsom when he was Mayor of San Francisco and has worked in the Brown Administration, for the Environmental Defense Fund and the Water Foundation.
  • Sacramento Region Benefits from Federal Flood Protection Funding - The fiscal year 2019 federal budget includes $53.5 funding for flood protection projects in the Sacramento Valley.  The Natomas Basin levee project will receive $22.6 million, the Sacramento River Bank Protection Project will receive $19.25 to construct erosion protection on the Feather River, and Hamilton City will receive $6.6 million to complete a multipurpose project. Funding is also designated for preconstruction engineering and design work for Lower San Joaquin River and West Sacramento projects.
  • Federal Water Infrastructure Bill Signed Into Law - President Trump signed America’s Water Infrastructure Act (S. 301) authorizing $6.1 billion to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for reducing flood risks and additional funds for improving the nation’s rivers, harbors, and drinking water supply.  The bill will also defund programs that Congress deems “inefficient.” The WRDA legislation also includes the Water Workforce Development bill language establishing a federal grant program to fund $1 million per year for training and career development of workers in the water and wastewater industries.  With nearly 50% of water industry employees eligible to retire in the next 5-10 years, the new program is intended to attract younger and more diverse work force.
  • Governor Brown Signs Budget Bill - On June 27, 2018 the Governor signed the fiscal year 2018-19 Budget Bill which includes a $295 million general Fund augmentation for Central Valley levees. He also signed the resources budget trailer bill, SB 854, which includes amendments to the Delta Levee Maintenance Subventions Program (Section 50 of the trailer bill, page 123) the Association negotiated with the Administration to prevent the local cost share from doubling on July 1, 2018 by deleting the sunset provision to make the current 75% cost share permanent.
  • CCVFCA Submits Budget Request - The Association submitted a budget request to the Legislature for annual $100 million General Fund appropriation for ongoing levee improvements and routine maintenance and a one-time $400 million appropriation to fund the repair of levees damaged in the 2017 storm events.
  • Proposed DWR and CVFPB Budgets - Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) report reveals a 76% reduction in DWR's budget from $2 billion to only $475 million due to how bond revenues are accounted for on an annual basis and same level of funding as last year, $9.6 million, for the Central Valley Flood Protection Board to fund their activities and 47 staff positions. However, the CVFPB's budget allocation is entirely reliant on General Fund and not bonds, so the LAO recommends the Board submit a report on February 1, 2019 that describes their progress in generating operating revenues from other funding mechanisms such as permit fees, levee inspection fees, fines for encroachment violations, renewing lease and royalty agreements with higher rates, and collecting assessments through the Sacramento San Joaquin Drainage District.
  • President Trump's 2019 Budget - Federal budge for 2019 proposes $5 billion nationwide for U.S. Army Corps of Engineer's Civil Works Program, including further levee improvements for Yuba City, Natomas, and Hamilton City (see page 10).
  • Legislators Form Delta Caucus - Senator Bill Dodd and Assemblyman Jim Frazier announced the formation of a legislative Delta Caucus to provide a collaborative venue for keeping the Delta delegation updated, briefed, and educated on the important policy issues affecting their region.