Flood Protection Information

Californians for Flood Safety Outreach

Matsui
Announces Initial Funding Levels for Sacramento Flood Protection
Priorities

Section 104 Crediting Language Also Included in
Bill

 

WASHINGTON,
D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento) announced that
three of Sacramento's top flood protection priorities were funded in the House
Energy and Water Fiscal Year 2013 Appropriations bill.  The bill was passed by
the full House Appropriations Committee today, and will next be up for a vote by
the full House of Representatives.

In this current economic climate,
several regions throughout the country are seeing significant project cuts or
are receiving no funding. However, Sacramento's projects together will receive
more than $93 million.

"While I understand the need to
reign in the federal budget and reduce our national deficit, public safety must
not be compromised just to meet a bottom line," said Congresswoman Matsui. "We
cannot afford to put thousands of Sacramento homeowners and businesses at risk.
The federal government must continue to be a partner in Sacramento's flood
protection efforts, and I am pleased to see many of our critical projects
receive the funding they need to move forward. I will continue working every day
to see that our region's projects get the federal support they need and
deserve."

Congresswoman Matsui has been a
tireless advocate for federal support for Sacramento's flood protection
priorities since she was sworn into office in 2005. She continues to be in
constant contact with leaders of the Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of
Reclamation, the State of California, the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency
(SAFCA), and other agencies to ensure that construction continues on time and on
budget, and has continued to argue Sacramento's case to her colleagues on the
Appropriations Committee through both conversations and formal letters.

The current funding levels, as
written into the legislation before the Appropriations Committee, are as
follows:

American River Common Features – $6,080,000
For work within the American River Watershed, including the American
River Common Features General Re-evaluation Report, further design work in
support of levee improvements in Natomas and levee improvements on the American
River.

Folsom Dam Joint Federal Project – $82,300,000

To continue construction on the auxiliary spillway, which will
provide greater efficiency in managing flood storage in Folsom Reservoir.

Folsom Dam Raise – $4,800,000
To
raise Folsom Dam to help achieve 200-year-flood protection for the
region.

In addition, the Energy and Water
Appropriations bill takes into account concerns that have been voiced,
particularly across California, regarding the Army Corps of Engineers
elimination of Section 104 crediting. This crediting provided certainty to local
governments who decide to move forward on levee improvement projects with local
and state money, with the assurances that the federal government will be a
partner down the road. Unfortunately, following their elimination of Section 104
crediting, the Army Corps moved to Section 221 crediting, which has a much more
rigorous set of criteria in order to get credit – including obtaining a Chief's
Report, which often is a multi-year process. This move is holding up projects,
even those that are being thoroughly vetted and are critical to public
safety.

 

Due to Congresswoman Matsui's advocating,
the Energy and Water Appropriations bill calls for a more flexible policy for
crediting, and directs the Secretary to review existing policy to determine if
changes should be made so that there can be variance in the policy instead of a
one-size-fits-all policy. The Secretary is required to report this within 60
days of enactment of the appropriations bill.

"The Army Corps' recent
decisions regarding federal crediting for local work is another blanket approach
that doesn't take into account the characteristics and variables of each
project. I am hopeful that the Secretary will move forward with a policy that
gives our region's projects the certainty they need."

 

 
Dear Friends,

 

On behalf of Congresswoman Doris Matsui I wanted to
update you on the continuing congressional efforts to authorize, fund and finish
the levee improvements in Natomas.

 

Yesterday, Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara
Boxer introduced legislation (S. 1810) in the Senate that mirrors Congresswoman
Matsui’s legislation (HR 433 – The Natomas Basin Flood Improvements Act) that
could serve as the basis for federal support for the levee project.  The Senate
is in the process of collecting projects for a Water Resources Development Act,
which traditionally has served as the legislative vehicle that levee
improvements are authorized.  The Natomas Levee Improvement Program (NLIP) is of
crucial importance to both Senators and the Senate is looking to move forward on
a WRDA in the coming months. 

 

Please see the following news releases for further
information:

·         Senator
Feinstein: http://www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2011/11/feinstein-boxer-introduce-bill-to-improve-sacramento-levees

·        
Congresswoman Matsui: http://matsui.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3159&Itemid=120
(also below)

 

Getting the NLIP authorized, funded and completed
remains Congresswoman Matsui’s highest priority and the introduction of
legislation by California’s two Senators is a sign of progress.  Please contact
me if you have any questions about this matter.

 

Sincerely,

 

Nathan Dietrich

District Director

 

FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, December 16, 2011

 

Congresswoman Matsui Announces Funding
for Sacramento Flood Projects in Year-End 'Megabus'
Bill

 

WASHINGTON,
D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento) voted to pass the
nine-bill "megabus" appropriations package for fiscal year 2012. The megabus
included the Energy and Water appropriations bill which funds the Army Corps of
Engineers and, in turn, Sacramento's flood projects. The House-passed version of
the bill earlier this year included a 9.6 percent reduction in funding for
Sacramento's projects. However, Congresswoman Matsui continued to advocate on
behalf of Sacramento's flood protection to the Conference Committee, and the
projects ultimately saw only a slight reduction from the President's request for
FY12.

 

"Each one of Sacramento's projects
is a critical component to improving our flood protection and ensuring our
region's public safety," said Congresswoman Matsui. "I am very pleased to see
Sacramento's flood projects getting the funding they need and deserve in this
'megabus' bill. While many other Corps projects were zeroed out or substantially
cut, I worked to ensure that Sacramento's projects were able to move forward
without delay."

 

The final funding levels, as
included in the conference agreement, are as follows:

American River Common Features – $25,037,000   


For work within the American River Watershed, including
the American River Common Features General Re-evaluation Report, further design
work in support of levee improvements in Natomas and levee improvements on the
American River.

Folsom Dam Joint Federal Project –
$20,580,000

To continue construction on the auxiliary spillway,
which will provide greater efficiency in managing flood storage in Folsom
Reservoir.

South Sacramento Streams – $4,900,000

To improve flood protection in the South Sacramento
area, some of which still does not have 100 year protection.

Folsom Dam
Raise – $980,000

To raise
Folsom Dam to help achieve 200-year-flood protection for the
region.

Additionally, the conference
agreement also includes a new 'Reserve Fund' that will allocate over $59 million
to the Corps for the purpose of funding flood protection projects. The Reserve
Fund may allow Sacramento's flood protection projects to receive even greater
funding.

"I plan to
continue working vigorously on securing federal support for Sacramento's flood
protection, and am hopeful that the new Army Corps Reserve Fund will provide
additional funding opportunities for our priorities," added Matsui.

 

Congresswoman Matsui has been a
tireless advocate for federal support for Sacramento's flood protection
priorities since she was sworn into office in 2005.  In the last year alone, she
has been in constant contact with leaders of the Corps of Engineers, the Bureau
of Reclamation, the State of California, the Sacramento Area Flood Control
Agency (SAFCA), and other agencies to ensure that construction continues on time
and on budget, and has continued to argue Sacramento's case to her colleagues on
the Appropriations Committee through both conversations and formal
letters.

 

The megabus bill is expected to
pass the Senate and be sent to the President for his signature this
afternoon.

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE                                                                     

Monday, November 7, 2011

 

CONTACT: ALANA JUTEAU

(202) 225-7163

 

Congresswoman Matsui Applauds Feinstein, Boxer
Introduction of Companion Natomas Legislation

Thanks Senators for Continued Efforts on Natomas Flood
Protection Issue

 

WASHINGTON,
D.C. – Today, following Senators
Feinstein and Boxer’s (D-CA) introduction of companion legislation to
Congresswoman Matsui’s own Natomas Basin Flood Protection Improvements Act, Congresswoman
Matsui released the following statement:

 

“I applaud Senators Diane
Feinstein and Barbara Boxer for their continued commitment to improving
Sacramento’s flood protection. As momentum towards a WRDA bill continues, our
legislation will ensure Natomas continues to be at the forefront of that
debate. 

 

“The Natomas Flood Improvement
Program is a critical public safety project that will protect 100,000 people,
create over 2,500 jobs, will ensure our community is properly protected and most
importantly it cannot be delayed. I thank Senator Feinstein and Senator Boxer
for introducing companion legislation to my H.R. 433 in the Senate, and I look
forward to continuing to work with them and our colleagues to ensure the project
is authorized, funded and completed.”

 

Senator Feinstein serves as
Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
Appropriations. Senator Boxer is Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment
and Public Works.