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Group Calls on Politicians to Make Flood Protection a Delta Priority
Restore the Delta is calling on local, state, and federal political leaders to take broad actions to protect and restore the California Delta in accordance with American Rivers' findings that the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta is the nation's most endangered river system.
Press Release from Restore the Delta
Stockton, California
April 7, 2009
Restore the Delta
PO Box 691088
Stockton, CA 95269
Restore the De lta.org
Contact: Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla
Phone: 209-479-2053
Email: Barbara@restorethede lta.org
RESTORE THE DELTA CALLS ON LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL POLITICAL LEADERS TO MAKE FLOOD PROTECTION A PRIORITY FOR RESTORATION OF THE DELTA
Stockton, California -- Stockton, California -- Restore the Delta, a Delta- based coalition including Delta farmers, environmentalists, everyday citizens, fishermen, business leaders, the faith community, and recreation enthusiasts, is calling on local, state, and federal political leaders to take broad actions to protect and restore the California Delta in accordance with American Rivers' findings that the Sacramento-San Joaquin is the nation's most endangered river system.
Restore the Delta Campaign Director Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla explains, "The American Rivers report released today notes that outdated flood management practices, the 1600 miles of levees that boarder the San Joaquin and Sacramento River, prevent rivers from spilling over into flood plains. Restore the Delta maintains that restoration of flood plains could become the most environmentally sound way to store water for agricultural uses throughout the state, thereby reducing the demand for water exports from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. A permanent and significant reduction in Delta water exports could help to improve Delta water quality and improve fisheries. We are calling on involved political leaders to advocate for flood management programs that will simultaneously protect people and grow our state water supply."
As noted in the American Rivers report, enhanced levees, while necessary to protect existing urban populations, could inadvertently increase development in floodplains. Barrigan-Parrila adds, "We need a flood management plan, for the protection of people, that ensures that continued urban development does not take place in floodplains. We need a water plan that finds ways to augment the water supply in each region, rather than our current practice of shipping water from one part of the state to the other. These are two sides of the same coin."
While Restore the Delta agrees with American Rivers findings that excessive water exports of over 6 million acre feet of water per year have lead to the decline and destruction of Delta species, Restore the Delta questions the role of new conveyance in solving the problem. Barrigan-Parrilla explains, "American Rivers maintains that new conveyance will only work with water conservation and efficiency measures on a scale that has not yet been set in place in California. We fear that the planning process that has been set in place (the Bay Delta Conservation Plan) has skipped over putting such conservation programs into place as well as addressing governance for the Delta. They have left out protection for Delta communities from the plan's desired outcomes."
Barrigan-Parrilla adds, "The question at this point in time should not be from where water should be taken from the Delta. What needs to be answered now is how much fresh water should flow through the Delta for restoration of our fisheries and for improved water quality for Delta communities."
##
About Restore the Delta
Restore the Delta is a grassroots campaign committed to making the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta fishable, swimmable, drinkable, and farmable to benefit all of California. Restore the Delta - a coalition of Delta residents, business leaders, civic organizations, community groups, faith-based communities, union locals, farmers, fishermen, and environmentalists - seeks to strengthen the health of the estuary and the well-being of Delta communities. Restore the Delta works to improve water quality so that fisheries and farming can thrive together again in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
Website: http://www.restorethedelta.org
Restore the Delta
Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla
email: barbara [at] restorethedelta.org
phone: 209-479-2053
Back to top
Stockton, California
April 7, 2009
Restore the Delta
PO Box 691088
Stockton, CA 95269
Restore the De lta.org
Contact: Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla
Phone: 209-479-2053
Email: Barbara@restorethede lta.org
RESTORE THE DELTA CALLS ON LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL POLITICAL LEADERS TO MAKE FLOOD PROTECTION A PRIORITY FOR RESTORATION OF THE DELTA
Stockton, California -- Stockton, California -- Restore the Delta, a Delta- based coalition including Delta farmers, environmentalists, everyday citizens, fishermen, business leaders, the faith community, and recreation enthusiasts, is calling on local, state, and federal political leaders to take broad actions to protect and restore the California Delta in accordance with American Rivers' findings that the Sacramento-San Joaquin is the nation's most endangered river system.
Restore the Delta Campaign Director Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla explains, "The American Rivers report released today notes that outdated flood management practices, the 1600 miles of levees that boarder the San Joaquin and Sacramento River, prevent rivers from spilling over into flood plains. Restore the Delta maintains that restoration of flood plains could become the most environmentally sound way to store water for agricultural uses throughout the state, thereby reducing the demand for water exports from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. A permanent and significant reduction in Delta water exports could help to improve Delta water quality and improve fisheries. We are calling on involved political leaders to advocate for flood management programs that will simultaneously protect people and grow our state water supply."
As noted in the American Rivers report, enhanced levees, while necessary to protect existing urban populations, could inadvertently increase development in floodplains. Barrigan-Parrila adds, "We need a flood management plan, for the protection of people, that ensures that continued urban development does not take place in floodplains. We need a water plan that finds ways to augment the water supply in each region, rather than our current practice of shipping water from one part of the state to the other. These are two sides of the same coin."
While Restore the Delta agrees with American Rivers findings that excessive water exports of over 6 million acre feet of water per year have lead to the decline and destruction of Delta species, Restore the Delta questions the role of new conveyance in solving the problem. Barrigan-Parrilla explains, "American Rivers maintains that new conveyance will only work with water conservation and efficiency measures on a scale that has not yet been set in place in California. We fear that the planning process that has been set in place (the Bay Delta Conservation Plan) has skipped over putting such conservation programs into place as well as addressing governance for the Delta. They have left out protection for Delta communities from the plan's desired outcomes."
Barrigan-Parrilla adds, "The question at this point in time should not be from where water should be taken from the Delta. What needs to be answered now is how much fresh water should flow through the Delta for restoration of our fisheries and for improved water quality for Delta communities."
##
About Restore the Delta
Restore the Delta is a grassroots campaign committed to making the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta fishable, swimmable, drinkable, and farmable to benefit all of California. Restore the Delta - a coalition of Delta residents, business leaders, civic organizations, community groups, faith-based communities, union locals, farmers, fishermen, and environmentalists - seeks to strengthen the health of the estuary and the well-being of Delta communities. Restore the Delta works to improve water quality so that fisheries and farming can thrive together again in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
Website: http://www.restorethedelta.org
Restore the Delta
Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla
email: barbara [at] restorethedelta.org
phone: 209-479-2053
Back to top
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In Washington, a setback levee on the Puyallup River prevents flooding of area homes by allowing the river more width room to flow in a natural meander, reducing velocity and water pressure on levees. By giving the water room to slow down and spread out, it can also have more time to sink into floodplain aquifers and raise the groundwater table..
"What's Happening;
We're building a setback levee near the Puyallup River to improve wildlife habitat and increase flood protection.
Why are we building this project?
The proposed Soldier's Home Setback Levee project seeks to restore about 67-acres of Puyallup River floodplain area to historic pre-levee conditions for fish and wildlife. Restoration will be accomplished by constructing a new setback levee and setting it back about 950-FT from the river. The existing levee structure will also be removed to allow for the river to naturally meander in the opened floodplain area. The new setback levee will also provide increased flood protection (100-yr level of protection) to adjacent property."
info found @;
http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/pc/services/home/environ/water/cip/soldiershome.htm
No need to reinvent the wheel, there are great existing examples of how setback levees also help create habitat for juvenile salmon;
"The Old Soldiers Home Levee Setback Project was developed by Pierce County with funding from a group of Hylebos Waterway PRPs referred to informally as the Mediation Group. The Mediation Group contributed $2.3 million in construction funds under a natural resource damage settlement relating to the Hylebos Waterway. The Salmon Recovery Funding Board also contributed toward the costs of property acquisition and project development. The levee setback project is located on the Puyallup River near the City of Orting and stretches upstream from the Calistoga Bridge.
The project consists of a new 5,000-foot levee which has been set back 900 feet from the main channel of the Puyallup River. The existing levee structure was removed to allow the river to naturally meander in the opened floodplain area. The new setback levee transformed 67 acres of dry floodplain into a complex of braided channels. The area of the setback lets the river migrate more naturally, allowing flood waters to spread out and create off-channel habitat. These areas are used by juvenile salmon as refuge as they migrate toward Puget Sound and by adult salmon when they return to spawn."
found @;
http://www.cbrestoration.noaa.gov/old_soldiers.html
The City of Natomas will also need to face reality and admit that changing a floodplain designation on paper because the city officials were handed some green papers by thoughtless developers does NOT imply that Mother Nature will take this change in floodplain designation seriously and honor the official's bribery based change in designation of an actual physical to a non-floodplain on paper!!
Some background on Natomas floodplain;
"News flash: We live in a floodplain.
January 28, 2008
So, last week FEMA made the very unexpected, startling, and downright stunning (ahem) announcement that the Natomas area was not safe from flooding. The federal agency is calling the area a “flood hazard zone,” which could end up halting the somewhat-mindboggling pace of construction there.
This news did not seem all that surprising to me (and a lot of other people), but apparently it did come as a shock to some Sacramento leaders. On January 16, 2008, the Sacramento Bee noted that “The designation was greeted with anger and shock by Sacramento city officials who have supported bold levee repair plans but oppose restrictions on building.” The Bee quoted City Manager Ray Kerridge as saying, ”I’m totally outraged…I don’t know how the federal government can do this to this city.” Similarly, the Bee quoted Mayor Heather Fargo as follows: ”I am very frustrated and very angry with the Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA because Sacramento has really become the poster child of what to do right in flood protection.”
When I first moved to Sacramento, there was little development between downtown Sacramento and the airport. Arco Arena stood by itself, a large, bland building plunked awkwardly in a field. North Natomas was merely a twinkle in some developers’ eyes at the time, although its predecessor, Natomas, was already there. It doesn’t take long, once here, to learn about the floods that have historically affected Sacramento and its growth. We’re surrounded by rivers–part of what made this area appealing to Sutter, who got here around 1840, and other early settlers.
As rivers tend to do, Sacramento’s rivers have repeatedly overrun their banks into the surrounding area, which has been a somewhat pesky issue for our fair citizenry over the years…in fact, there’s a handy timeline about flooding and flood issues at:
http://www.safca.org/floodRisk/index.html
(This is the SAFCA–Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency–website. This will be important in a sec. Bear with me.)
The Bee’s 1/16/08 article summed up the facts nicely, noting that, “Sacramento is considered the urban area most vulnerable to catastrophic flooding in the nation.”
"
read on @;
http://6degreessacramento.wordpress.com/2008/01/28/news-flash-we-live-in-a-floodplain/
When FEMA is in rare form to actually warn people of impending danger, should this not be taken seriously? Maybe they learned something from Katrina after all, though now it is the local government officials sticking their heads in the sand and ignoring potential and probable flooding risks to favor short term profits of a few careless developers? Oh, yes, and what elevation do these city council folks live at? Will the city council members provide for and guarantee safe evacuation for the Natomas residents living in the path of a severe flood? Think not!!
Best bet for Natomas and other low lying regions along river floodplains is to voluntarily sacrifice some land alongside the rivers for wider setback levees in the near future than to have much greater land surface area taken by force of water during a flood event, homes, people and all..
"What's Happening;
We're building a setback levee near the Puyallup River to improve wildlife habitat and increase flood protection.
Why are we building this project?
The proposed Soldier's Home Setback Levee project seeks to restore about 67-acres of Puyallup River floodplain area to historic pre-levee conditions for fish and wildlife. Restoration will be accomplished by constructing a new setback levee and setting it back about 950-FT from the river. The existing levee structure will also be removed to allow for the river to naturally meander in the opened floodplain area. The new setback levee will also provide increased flood protection (100-yr level of protection) to adjacent property."
info found @;
http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/pc/services/home/environ/water/cip/soldiershome.htm
No need to reinvent the wheel, there are great existing examples of how setback levees also help create habitat for juvenile salmon;
"The Old Soldiers Home Levee Setback Project was developed by Pierce County with funding from a group of Hylebos Waterway PRPs referred to informally as the Mediation Group. The Mediation Group contributed $2.3 million in construction funds under a natural resource damage settlement relating to the Hylebos Waterway. The Salmon Recovery Funding Board also contributed toward the costs of property acquisition and project development. The levee setback project is located on the Puyallup River near the City of Orting and stretches upstream from the Calistoga Bridge.
The project consists of a new 5,000-foot levee which has been set back 900 feet from the main channel of the Puyallup River. The existing levee structure was removed to allow the river to naturally meander in the opened floodplain area. The new setback levee transformed 67 acres of dry floodplain into a complex of braided channels. The area of the setback lets the river migrate more naturally, allowing flood waters to spread out and create off-channel habitat. These areas are used by juvenile salmon as refuge as they migrate toward Puget Sound and by adult salmon when they return to spawn."
found @;
http://www.cbrestoration.noaa.gov/old_soldiers.html
The City of Natomas will also need to face reality and admit that changing a floodplain designation on paper because the city officials were handed some green papers by thoughtless developers does NOT imply that Mother Nature will take this change in floodplain designation seriously and honor the official's bribery based change in designation of an actual physical to a non-floodplain on paper!!
Some background on Natomas floodplain;
"News flash: We live in a floodplain.
January 28, 2008
So, last week FEMA made the very unexpected, startling, and downright stunning (ahem) announcement that the Natomas area was not safe from flooding. The federal agency is calling the area a “flood hazard zone,” which could end up halting the somewhat-mindboggling pace of construction there.
This news did not seem all that surprising to me (and a lot of other people), but apparently it did come as a shock to some Sacramento leaders. On January 16, 2008, the Sacramento Bee noted that “The designation was greeted with anger and shock by Sacramento city officials who have supported bold levee repair plans but oppose restrictions on building.” The Bee quoted City Manager Ray Kerridge as saying, ”I’m totally outraged…I don’t know how the federal government can do this to this city.” Similarly, the Bee quoted Mayor Heather Fargo as follows: ”I am very frustrated and very angry with the Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA because Sacramento has really become the poster child of what to do right in flood protection.”
When I first moved to Sacramento, there was little development between downtown Sacramento and the airport. Arco Arena stood by itself, a large, bland building plunked awkwardly in a field. North Natomas was merely a twinkle in some developers’ eyes at the time, although its predecessor, Natomas, was already there. It doesn’t take long, once here, to learn about the floods that have historically affected Sacramento and its growth. We’re surrounded by rivers–part of what made this area appealing to Sutter, who got here around 1840, and other early settlers.
As rivers tend to do, Sacramento’s rivers have repeatedly overrun their banks into the surrounding area, which has been a somewhat pesky issue for our fair citizenry over the years…in fact, there’s a handy timeline about flooding and flood issues at:
http://www.safca.org/floodRisk/index.html
(This is the SAFCA–Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency–website. This will be important in a sec. Bear with me.)
The Bee’s 1/16/08 article summed up the facts nicely, noting that, “Sacramento is considered the urban area most vulnerable to catastrophic flooding in the nation.”
"
read on @;
http://6degreessacramento.wordpress.com/2008/01/28/news-flash-we-live-in-a-floodplain/
When FEMA is in rare form to actually warn people of impending danger, should this not be taken seriously? Maybe they learned something from Katrina after all, though now it is the local government officials sticking their heads in the sand and ignoring potential and probable flooding risks to favor short term profits of a few careless developers? Oh, yes, and what elevation do these city council folks live at? Will the city council members provide for and guarantee safe evacuation for the Natomas residents living in the path of a severe flood? Think not!!
Best bet for Natomas and other low lying regions along river floodplains is to voluntarily sacrifice some land alongside the rivers for wider setback levees in the near future than to have much greater land surface area taken by force of water during a flood event, homes, people and all..
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