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West Sac; Delta town Clarksburg plans more sprawl development!
Another planned development along the banks of the lower Sacramento River ignores flood potential and possible safety measures of setback levees. To prevent probable flooding damage, setback levees allow rivers greater width to meander and place less pressure on levees. Setback levees also provide wildlife habitat and aquifer recharge..
Today the Yolo County commisioners will vote to approve another development plan along the lower Sacramento river in the town of Clarksburg..
from SacBee;
"Yolo County plans to take another shot Thursday at winning state approval for a controversial housing development in the protected rural heart of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta - but it still faces tough odds.
In its first such action ever, the 17-year-old Delta Protection Commission last year rejected an earlier version of the Sugar Mill housing plan proposed by developer John Carvalho Jr. for the tiny town of Clarksburg.
Yolo County has since downsized the project somewhat, but the commission's staff still contends that it violates policies to protect the rural core of the Delta.
Commissioners are slated to decide Thursday at a meeting that begins at 5:30 p.m. at the city of West Sacramento Galleria, 1110 W. Capitol Ave"
article found @;
http://www.sacbee.com/yolo/story/814844.html
It is questionable given recent warnings by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers regarding the safety of levees in Natomas if additional development along Sacramento Valley rivers is a wise idea. According to this article, the state commission rejected the project, yet somehow the developers override the state commission?
"State commission upholds delta development rules, rejects homes"
Friday, January 26, 2007
(01-26) 18:39 PST SACRAMENTO, (AP) --
"A state commission today ruled against plans for a 162-home subdivision near the Sacramento River town of Clarksburg.
The vote by the Delta Protection Commission could hold wider implications for home building in the Central Valley where development is restricted by state law.
It was a victory for environmentalists and community activists who had complained the project could prompt development of prime farmland around the delta.
The decision involved a 105-acre former industrial site in Clarksburg, a town once known for its beet-processing plant about 15 miles south of the state capital. Advocates supported the project as a way to bring life back to the town.
But John Boyle, a member of the Concerned Citizens for Clarksburg, says people want the area preserved."
article found @;
http://www.sfgate.com/.../n182826S93.DTL&hw=state+commission+upholds+delta+development&sn=001&sc=1000
If development is to occur regardless of ecological and flooding concerns, there are alternatives to the current levee systems that would work with the tendency of rivers to flood in the wet season. One such alternative is the setback levee that allows the river additional channel width for potential flooding and improved drainage, including aquifer recharge as the setback levees can absorb extra groundwater for storage. Here is another solution that would simultaneously prevent flood damage to communities AND help recharge aquifers. The only "problem" with setback levees is that the river becomes wider and more dry land is needed to be "added" to the river's natural meandering channel. The main objection is from the developers, farmers, etc.. who do not wish to "lose the land" to setback levees, though during a flood event and levee failure more than just land could be lost if setback levees are not used. Setback levees are far less likely to fail in storm events as the additional river channel width would reduce flow velocity and spread the river out over a greater surface area..
Places where setback levees have been attempted have witnessed less severe flooding during rainy season and additional wildlife recovery as riparian habitat is restored. This would also benefit the Sacramento valley native riparian trees like cottonwoods, willows and oaks. Can developers sacrifice some land to the rivers voluntarily, or does short term profit trump long term sustainability and safety once again?
Here's an example of how setback levees in Washington helped both the salmon and the people living along the river;
"With good stewardship, most ill effects of such floods can be reduced—for people and salmon. In Pierce County, they’re making a way for both salmon and people to win.
The Old Soldier Home levee set-back project was recently completed near Orting. By moving an old levee about 1,000 feet back from the river, flood protection will be improved while protecting and restoring habitat for salmon. With the dike set-back the Puyallup River can act more naturally and has more room to flood. It’s like releasing your finger on the end of the garden hose."
article found @;
http://blogs.nwifc.org/weblog/beingfrank/2008/01/people_and_salm.html
also;
"A $5.5 million setback levee construction project near Orting took seven years to come together, but the timing turned out to be perfect. The project, called the Soldiers Home Setback Levee, was completed just before the November storms arrived with record rainfall and major flooding.
County and City of Orting officials say the new levee prevented significant damage. Extensive flooding occurred in other areas near Orting, chiefly on the Carbon River upstream from the city. "The new levee performed beautifully," said Dan Wrye of Pierce County Water Programs. "It provided exceptional flood-damage protection. That wasn't a surprise, because the levee was designed to handle a 100-year flood."
City Administrator Mark Bethune of Orting confirmed the setback levee was effective in preventing a more serious flood impact on the city. "The additional detention as well as new levees that were superior to the old levees meant we did not suffer from potential dike failure which we saw occur elsewhere on the Puyallup and Carbon rivers," he said.
The mile-long levee project stretches south of the Calistoga Bridge over the Puyallup River and is set back 900 feet from the main channel. "This project is unique in the way it provides solutions to multiple problems and benefits the public and the environment," said Debby Hyde, the county's special projects coordinator.
Besides providing flood control, the levee transformed 67 acres of dry floodplain into a complex of braided channels that migrating salmon will use for refuge. Salmon habitat was the project's second main goal. "This levee exceeded our short-term expectations in terms of habitat. We expected the river to gradually meander into the setback area, thus creating salmon habitat. But Mother Nature decided November 2006 was the time for this to happen," Wrye said."
above article found @;
http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/cfapps/internet/news.cfm?node_id=50955&media=PC
Whether additional development occurs along rios in the Sacramento Valley or not, these setback levees would protect existing homes and farms from potential flood damage, and should be implemented throughout the Sacramento/San Joaquin riparian valley ecosystems..
from SacBee;
"Yolo County plans to take another shot Thursday at winning state approval for a controversial housing development in the protected rural heart of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta - but it still faces tough odds.
In its first such action ever, the 17-year-old Delta Protection Commission last year rejected an earlier version of the Sugar Mill housing plan proposed by developer John Carvalho Jr. for the tiny town of Clarksburg.
Yolo County has since downsized the project somewhat, but the commission's staff still contends that it violates policies to protect the rural core of the Delta.
Commissioners are slated to decide Thursday at a meeting that begins at 5:30 p.m. at the city of West Sacramento Galleria, 1110 W. Capitol Ave"
article found @;
http://www.sacbee.com/yolo/story/814844.html
It is questionable given recent warnings by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers regarding the safety of levees in Natomas if additional development along Sacramento Valley rivers is a wise idea. According to this article, the state commission rejected the project, yet somehow the developers override the state commission?
"State commission upholds delta development rules, rejects homes"
Friday, January 26, 2007
(01-26) 18:39 PST SACRAMENTO, (AP) --
"A state commission today ruled against plans for a 162-home subdivision near the Sacramento River town of Clarksburg.
The vote by the Delta Protection Commission could hold wider implications for home building in the Central Valley where development is restricted by state law.
It was a victory for environmentalists and community activists who had complained the project could prompt development of prime farmland around the delta.
The decision involved a 105-acre former industrial site in Clarksburg, a town once known for its beet-processing plant about 15 miles south of the state capital. Advocates supported the project as a way to bring life back to the town.
But John Boyle, a member of the Concerned Citizens for Clarksburg, says people want the area preserved."
article found @;
http://www.sfgate.com/.../n182826S93.DTL&hw=state+commission+upholds+delta+development&sn=001&sc=1000
If development is to occur regardless of ecological and flooding concerns, there are alternatives to the current levee systems that would work with the tendency of rivers to flood in the wet season. One such alternative is the setback levee that allows the river additional channel width for potential flooding and improved drainage, including aquifer recharge as the setback levees can absorb extra groundwater for storage. Here is another solution that would simultaneously prevent flood damage to communities AND help recharge aquifers. The only "problem" with setback levees is that the river becomes wider and more dry land is needed to be "added" to the river's natural meandering channel. The main objection is from the developers, farmers, etc.. who do not wish to "lose the land" to setback levees, though during a flood event and levee failure more than just land could be lost if setback levees are not used. Setback levees are far less likely to fail in storm events as the additional river channel width would reduce flow velocity and spread the river out over a greater surface area..
Places where setback levees have been attempted have witnessed less severe flooding during rainy season and additional wildlife recovery as riparian habitat is restored. This would also benefit the Sacramento valley native riparian trees like cottonwoods, willows and oaks. Can developers sacrifice some land to the rivers voluntarily, or does short term profit trump long term sustainability and safety once again?
Here's an example of how setback levees in Washington helped both the salmon and the people living along the river;
"With good stewardship, most ill effects of such floods can be reduced—for people and salmon. In Pierce County, they’re making a way for both salmon and people to win.
The Old Soldier Home levee set-back project was recently completed near Orting. By moving an old levee about 1,000 feet back from the river, flood protection will be improved while protecting and restoring habitat for salmon. With the dike set-back the Puyallup River can act more naturally and has more room to flood. It’s like releasing your finger on the end of the garden hose."
article found @;
http://blogs.nwifc.org/weblog/beingfrank/2008/01/people_and_salm.html
also;
"A $5.5 million setback levee construction project near Orting took seven years to come together, but the timing turned out to be perfect. The project, called the Soldiers Home Setback Levee, was completed just before the November storms arrived with record rainfall and major flooding.
County and City of Orting officials say the new levee prevented significant damage. Extensive flooding occurred in other areas near Orting, chiefly on the Carbon River upstream from the city. "The new levee performed beautifully," said Dan Wrye of Pierce County Water Programs. "It provided exceptional flood-damage protection. That wasn't a surprise, because the levee was designed to handle a 100-year flood."
City Administrator Mark Bethune of Orting confirmed the setback levee was effective in preventing a more serious flood impact on the city. "The additional detention as well as new levees that were superior to the old levees meant we did not suffer from potential dike failure which we saw occur elsewhere on the Puyallup and Carbon rivers," he said.
The mile-long levee project stretches south of the Calistoga Bridge over the Puyallup River and is set back 900 feet from the main channel. "This project is unique in the way it provides solutions to multiple problems and benefits the public and the environment," said Debby Hyde, the county's special projects coordinator.
Besides providing flood control, the levee transformed 67 acres of dry floodplain into a complex of braided channels that migrating salmon will use for refuge. Salmon habitat was the project's second main goal. "This levee exceeded our short-term expectations in terms of habitat. We expected the river to gradually meander into the setback area, thus creating salmon habitat. But Mother Nature decided November 2006 was the time for this to happen," Wrye said."
above article found @;
http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/cfapps/internet/news.cfm?node_id=50955&media=PC
Whether additional development occurs along rios in the Sacramento Valley or not, these setback levees would protect existing homes and farms from potential flood damage, and should be implemented throughout the Sacramento/San Joaquin riparian valley ecosystems..
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What is a very bad idea is additional development without trying the setback levees. So-called levee improvements or adding height ignore the fact that levees can be overtopped and fail because of internal complications, slumps, etc..
Channelizing rivers flowing swiftly between narrow levee systems also lose potential for groundwater infiltration if the rivers moved slower and covered more width. The channelized rivers move all that water much faster to the ocean, not soaking into the aquifers below as they would prior to man-made channelization containment levees..
Developers are placing people at risk by making false promises of levee safety despite known evidence to the contrary. We also are aware of Arnold S. firing the previous flood control officials because they weren't friendly enough to developers and actually raised concerns for the safety of current residents (especially Natomas!), a no-no in Arnold's policy of suburban sprawl uber alles!!
Setback levees will help improve the environment by providing additional riparian habitat for wildlife AND will help protect human residents living in flood prone regions of the central valley. Surely the developers and farmers can grant the rios a few hundred feet of extra wandering width to help restore this valley riparian ecosystem and keep people from being flooded out of their homes??