Yuba County Comprehensive Flood

Protection Program

Three Rivers Levee Improvement AuthorityReclamation District 784

County of YubaYuba County Water Agency

April 23, 2004

Local Agencies Participating in Flood Control in Yuba County

• Yuba County

• Reclamation District No. 784

• Marysville Levee Commission

• Yuba County Water Agency

• Three Rivers Levee Improvement Authority

• Special Legislative District

Flood History

Post Oroville and New Bullards Bar floods 1986 Linda Flood

7,000 acres inundated 4,000 homes & businesses damaged or destroyed $95 million in damages (1986 dollars)

1997 Arboga Flood 16,000 acres inundated 800 homes & businesses damaged or destroyed 3 lives lost

Flood HistoryFlood History

1986 Flood View of

Linda with Marysville

in background

Background (continued)Background (continued)

View of 1997

flooding along the

Feather River

1997 Arboga Flood

Flood Control Goals

Short Term – Achieve a 200-year level of protection in RD 784 and 300-year level of protection in Marysville through construction of the Corps Yuba Basin Project

Long Term – Achieve a 500-year level of protection (YCWA Supplemental Flood Control Project Goal)

Flood Control Projects

Corps System Evaluation Corps Yuba Basin Yuba-Feather Supplemental Flood Control

Project Y-FSFCP

Corps System Evaluation Project

• Goal was to fix the levees to handle the 1957 design water surface profile

• RD 784 & Marysville Ring Levee– Improvements constructed between 1997 &

1999– Site 7 Extension to be constructed in 2004– Total cost is $49.7 million– YCWA betterments $2.4 million

Corps Yuba Basin Project History

• In 1988, the Corps of Engineers initiated the Yuba Basin Project

• 15 years of study and analysis• Target level of protection 200-year RD 784 & 300-year

Marysville – 1998 Feasibility Study did not identify a need for work on the RD

784 Lower Feather, Bear & WPIC Levees for 200-year level of protection

• Construction initially targeted for 1997• Initial cost estimate $28 million • Congressional authorization 1999 (Chief’s Report)• Congressional approved construction start 2002

Yuba Feather Supplemental Flood Control Project

• YCWA initiated feasibility study after 1997 flood to achieve a 500-year level of protection

• YCWA Study & South Yuba Wild & Scenic River SB 496 led to Costa-Machado Water Act (Prop 13) $90 million for Feather & Yuba

• Focused on improvements past base case of 200 & 300-year level provided by the Yuba Basin Project

Y-FSFCP Components

• Colgate Tailwater Depression• New Bullards Bar Increased Outlet

Capacity• Feather River Levee Setbacks (upper &

lower)• Forecast Coordinated Operations• Thermalito Reoperation and Oroville

Surcharge concepts handed off to DWR

Changing Conditions

1997 Flood Event New underseepage guidelines – requires more

work to achieve a given level of protection Revisions to hydrology

DWR Floodplain Mapping Study Identified FEMA deficiencies in RD 784

Lower RD 784 freeboard deficiency Yuba River left bank stability problem

Changing Conditions Impact• Corps Yuba Basin Project

– No longer provides a 200-year level of protection for RD 784, especially in southern RD 784

– Underseepage requirement increased cost, requiring increase in Section 902 limit

– LRR initiated in 2003 with goal of construction ASAP– GRR contemplated for remainder of RD 784 & MLC– LRR preliminary result identify $108 million project

cost, but benefits will only support $90-$100 million– LRR scheduled completion date May 2005– Corps Yuba Basin Project decision point: Proceed

with LRR or switch to GRR given new LRR schedule

DWR Floodplain Mapping Impact

• May 28, 2003 DWR released preliminary that identified 100-year deficiencies in RD 784

• DWR Floodplain Mapping Study - unknown impact on the remainder of RD 784 & MLC levees– Levee shown as failed unless enough geotechnical

data to show otherwise• Deficient levee reaches require FEMA

certification

Proposed Strategy

• Goal – 200-year protection for RD 784 and MLC in the short term

• Proposed Strategy– Add WPIC and Bear River levees work to the

Y-FSFCP– Move Corps Yuba Basin Project to a GRR

• Include WPIC, Bear improvements and Feather River levee setbacks in GRR

– Request section 104 credit for Y-FSFCP towards Yuba Basin Project GRR

Proposed Strategy Continued

• Secure local funding for WPIC, Bear and Yuba levee work

• Plumas Lake Mello Roos• Proposition 13 funds• YCWA funds

– Construct WPIC, Bear and Yuba levee projects as-quickly-as possible

– Leverage local and Proposition 13 expenditures for Yuba Basin non-Federal share

– Complete Corps Yuba Basin Project GRR and construct project

South County Floodplain Issues:Local Response

• DWR provided notification to locals in May of 2003

• Locals funded and completed a problem identification study in Nov 2003 ($500K)

• First phase of alternatives analysis completed March 2004

• Y-FSFCP analysis of levee setback alternatives (underway since 2003) re-tracked to address South County issues

South County Floodplain Program Goals

• Identify the extent of issues to be resolved to achieve FEMA certification

• Evaluate alternatives to provide the greatest level of flood protection possible

• Develop a financing plan

• Develop an implementation timeline

• Develop a solution that is politically, socially, and environmentally acceptable

Revised Y-FSFCP Strategy

• Level of Protection – 200-year minimum goal – Phase 1 and 2

• 100-year WPIC & Upper Bear• Yuba River• Bear River Orchard• Olivehurst Detention Basin• Relocate or Improve Pump Station No.6

– Phase 3• 200-year with levee setback on Feather & Bear, or• 100-year by improve existing lower Bear River levee

FEMA Fix vs. Y-FSFCP CostsLocal Funding: $25M

100-Year Solution Goal 200-YearProject: Strengthen existing levees to 100-year level of protectionCost: $25 MillionCompletion: November 2005

Project: Strengthen existing levees, plus setback leveeCost: $48-$75 MillionCompletion: November 2006 (fast-track)

Specific Project Elements:Upper Bear/ WPIC improvementsYuba River ImprovementsPump Station #6Bear River FloodwayOlivehurst Detention Basin Lower Bear/Feather Improvements

Specific Project Elements:Same as 100 year plan on upper Bear and WPICBear/Feather River Setback Levee

Funding StrategyProp 13 grant funds potentially available $55 million

Net funds from local bond proceeds $25 million

Total potential construction budget $80 million

Additional funding potential:CDF&G enhancement funds for land purchase

$15 million

Total potential construction budget, with additional funding sources:

$95 million

Y-FSFCP Phase 1• Goal – Restore design condition for WPIC and Upper

Bear• Rec Board permit application has been submitted on the

following features:– Strengthen WPIC and Bear River above Hwy 70 to pass the

1957 design profile– Erosion protection– Filling of landside ditch– Levee raising is not included in this phase

• Other work that may be added to Phase 1– Yuba River FEMA critical reach (only strengthening required) – Bear River Orchard Removal– Olivehurst Detention Basin

Components of Current Rec Board Permit Application

Schedule for Y-FSFCP• Phase 1 – 2004

– Strengthen WPIC & Upper Bear– Yuba River FEMA Critical Site– Bear River Orchard– Olivehurst Detention Basin– EIR for Levee Setback

• Phase 2 – 2005– Relocate or Improve Pump Station No.6– Raise WPIC and Bear River levees upstream of Hwy 70– Land acquisition if setback levee is feasible

• Phase 3– 2006 - Construct setback levee if feasible, or– 2005 - Strengthen Bear River levee downstream of Hwy 70

Local Funding Plan

• Mello-Roos or other bond structure under consideration, but is contingent on development of Plumas Lake

• Target for net proceeds is about $25M

• Initial proceeds as early as July 2004

Contingency Plan

• 100-year project can be completed with local funds– Addresses funding or CEQA issues outside of

local control– Requires Rec Board approval of

programmatic permit for staged 100 & 200-year plans

Corps Yuba Basin Project GRR

• Project scope expanded to all RD 784 & MLC– Changing conditions necessitates reanalysis of all RD

784 & MLC levees– Opportunity to integrate YCWA levee setback flood

control planning effort into Corps Yuba Basin Project– Address all DWR issues

• Yuba River patrol road• Yuba River goldfields• Yuba River right bank levee in Marysville• Add Feather River levee setbacks• Address lower RD 784 levee issues

Corps Yuba Basin Project Local Participation & Cost Share

• Y-FSFCP Program– Total cost for this program is $48-$75 million– Project cost potentially creditable through Corps

Section 104 authority– Completed in 2-3 years – Addresses FEMA certification

• Projected cost for Yuba Basin Project is $225 million– State share = $55 million– Local share = $24 million– Section 104 credit will significant reduce non-Federal

share

Summary

• Provides improved protection for the existing 24,500 residents quickly

• Provides a plan for 200-year protection• Lessens State flood damage liability• Provides significant portion of Corps Yuba

Basin Project non-Federal share by leveraging Prop-13 funds through Section 104 credit

• Requires Mello Roos funds

Next Steps

• Specific requests to Rec Board:– Grant Programmatic approval for Y-FSFCP

Program• Necessary for securing local financing

– Grant specific approvals for elements targeted for design & construction in 2004

– Support GRR approach for the Yuba Basin Project