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California’s Central ValleyFlood System Improvement Framework
California Levees RoundtableMarch 27, 2009
California Levees RoundtableMarch 27, 2009
1
2
Agenda
Origins of the Roundtable
Central Valley Flood System Improvement Framework
Short Term Plan
Long Term Approach
Outstanding Issues Ahead
Discussion
Origins of the CA Levees Roundtable
3
July Levee ConferenceJuly Levee
Conference
August Vegetation Symposium
August Vegetation Symposium
CA Levees Roundtabl
e
CA Levees Roundtabl
e
Corps’ Draft “White Paper”
Corps’ Draft “White Paper”
Why Was the Roundtable Established?
Recognition of high risk to public safety due to levee erosion, encroachments, seepage, channel capacity & vegetation management
Draft Corps “White Paper” on the “Treatment of Vegetation Within Local Flood Damage Reduction Systems”
Issued by the US Army Corps of Engineers in April 2007 Triggered by devastation of New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina in
2005 Enforcement of existing levee maintenance standard
National standard poses major challenges for the Central Valley Flood Management System
NEEDED COLLABORATIVE SOLUTION 4
California Levees Roundtable Goals
Establish a dialog among the leadership of levee maintaining agencies and resources agencies regarding maintenance on California’s Central Valley levees.
Develop collaborative relationships among the stakeholders to work toward policy solutions regarding maintenance of California’s Central Valley levees.
Achieve consensus on broad policy guidance on California levee vegetation standards that protect public safety and critical habitat.
Gain agreement on a process and next steps toward establishing and implementing sustainable California levee maintenance standards, while conserving or enhancing existing habitat for fish and wildlife species.
5
Roundtable Agreements
Public safety is the top priority
Vegetation management is only one of many issues that threaten levee integrity
Draft a phased system-wide plan to address highest risks to levee stability and public safety first (the Framework)
Includes short- and long-term elements
Levee maintaining agencies should defer any substantial vegetation removal along levees while the plan is being developed
Any vegetation removal to comply with applicable State and Federal laws
There is an urgent need to reduce risk throughout the Central Valley by applying a system-wide remedy to levee threats
6
The Framework
Short-term Framework for flood system improvements that are already underway or will be initiated before a comprehensive plan (CVFPP) is ready in 2012
Geographic scope of Framework same as CVFPP
Activities outlined in the Framework are focused on addressing five threats to improve public safety
Channel Capacity Seepage Erosion Encroachments Vegetation
No single threat given priority in the short-term7
Important Elements of the Short-term Framework
Inspections Enforcements Maintenance Early
Implementation Projects
Emergency Response
Public Outreach Data Collection Project Planning
Feasibility Studies Ongoing Flood
Protection Projects Research Environmental
Considerations Coordination Issues to Resolve Implementation
Roles
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Interim Levee Vegetation Inspection Criteria
Criteria apply on: Entire landside slope plus a 10-feet wide easement
beyond the landside toe. Top 20 feet (slope length) of waterside levee slope.
Trees trimmed to five feet above the ground (12 foot clearance above the crown road) and thinned enough for visibility and access
Brush, weeds, or other such vegetation over 12 inches high blocking visibility should be trimmed, thinned, mowed, burned, dragged, or otherwise removed in an allowed manner.
9
LMA Maintenance Rating: 2007/2008 Comparison
25
42
1825
64
39
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70N
um
ber
of L
MA
's
A M U2007 2008
Maintenance Deficiencies: Percentage of System Levee Miles
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%Threshold %
2007
2008
Vegetation Trim/Thin TreesEncroachments Animal ControlErosion Crown SurfaceOther
2007 2008
Vegetation 43% 24%
Trim/Thin Trees 10% 4%
Encroachments 6% 1%
Animal Control 13% 3%
Erosion 3% 2%
Crown Surface 6% 1%
Other <1% <1%
Total 83% 36%
Maintenance Deficiencies: Percentage of System Levee Miles
Important Milestones of Framework
LMAs to maintain levee vegetation according to the DWR’s Interim Levee Inspection Criteria for Vegetation
Levees in the Central Valley to be in compliance with the interim vegetation requirements by November 1, 2010
Report by LMAs of compliance with interim vegetation standards by November 1, 2009
21
Much Has Already Been Accomplished
Significant progress made in 2008! Implementation of Interim Inspection Criteria System wide investigations proceeding Portions of the system meet Corps standards
Agreement to measure progress toward remaining Framework goals annually
Corps and DWR
Flood System to remain “active” in PL 84-99 Eligibility reviewed annually Eligibility reconsidered in 2012
Corps HQ letter, January 9, 2009 Sets requirements for extension of PL84-99 eligibility
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Long-term Approach
Conserve and enhance riparian habitat on the waterside of levees
Aggressively pursue compliance with Corps levee standards including vegetation using:
Improved maintenance inspections
Phased vegetation management practices
Regional variances
Engineered alternatives
23
Long-Term Approach (continued)
Fully integrate the short-term activities with California FloodSAFE initiative
System-wide Central Valley Flood Protection Plan (CVFPP)
Development underway with implementation scheduled to begin in 2012
Develop Multi Species and Floodplain Conservation Strategy
Conduct research on effects of vegetation and vegetation management on levee integrity/performance
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Continued Collaboration and Next Steps
Roundtable participants are committed to broad based stakeholder collaboration
Many specifics of the Framework will be resolved during the next four years as implementation progresses
Levee integrity concerns will be addressed collaboratively by federal, State, and local agencies during the development and implementation of the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan and the California FloodSAFE initiative
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Outstanding Issues Ahead
Define standardized maintenance processes and responsibilities of LMAs
Address authorized and unauthorized encroachments
Processes for identification and enforcement
Develop stable funding mechanisms at federal, state and local levels
Assist LMAs achieve stable and sustainable funding
Work with FEMA on levee certification issues
Complete research initiatives26
Outstanding Issues Ahead (continued)
Identify applicable environmental law requirements relating to short and long-term actions
Develop CA vision addressing environmental protection and public safety concurrently
Define opportunities for LMAs to cost effectively mitigate impacts of levee maintenance
Develop programmatic approaches for environmental compliance
Define ESA consultation or permitting alternatives
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For More Information
Framework available at http://www.cvfpb.ca.gov/
Participant Agencies Contact Persons: CORPS Paige Caldwell (916) 557-6903FWS Michael Hoover (916) 414-6704NMFS Howard Brown (916) 930-3608FEMA Kathleen Schaefer (510) 627-7129
DWR Gary Hester (916) 653-6870CVFPB Jay Punia (916) 574-0609DFG Scott Flint (916) 653-9719
SAFCA Peter Buck (916) 874-4581RD 2068 Mike Hardesty (707) 678-5412
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Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Board approve “California’s Central Valley Flood System Improvement Framework” developed by the California Levees Roundtable.
Staff recommends that the Board direct its Executive Officer in collaboration with the Department of Water Resources to submit the Framework Document on behalf of the State, to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers demonstrating, the many ongoing and planned system-wide improvements and seek temporary extension of PL 84-99 eligibility based on the U.S Army Corps of Engineer’s Director of Civil Works January 9, 2009 memorandum.