Sacramento Area Levee Accreditation Key Results from Encroachment Analysis

Presented to:

Central Valley Flood Protection BoardAugust 23, 2013

Sacramento Area Levee AccreditationKey Results from Encroachment Analysis

Presentation Outline

Levee certification overview

USACE encroachment assessments

Examples of permitted encroachments contributing to

USACE “Unacceptable” rating

Draft Encroachment White Paper overview

Next steps

Levee Certification Overview

In 1998, Sacramento area levees reaccredited by FEMA based on

USACE certification

Certain levees recertified by USACE in 2004, 2007 and 2010

In past, levee certification had no expiration date

EC 1110-2-6067 was published in 2010 by the USACE to standardize

USACE’s levee evaluation procedures to support the National Flood

Insurance Program (NFIP)

Per EC, the current USACE certification letters expire in August 2013

CA SB5 requires levee owners to meet Urban Levee Design Criteria

(200-year event) by 2025


American River*

Arcade Creek

Dry Creek

Sacramento River

Beach Lake Levee*

* Awaiting USACE letter of acceptance based on levee design and past performance

NEMDC (east levee)


SAFCA has taken lead to certify area levees in accordance with:

44 CFR Section 65.10 (FEMA)

ULDC criteria (DWR)

Evaluation started in 2012 with team of consultants

As-built data collection

Geotechnical data collection and analysis

H&H analysis

Encroachment and Vegetation analysis

Certification documentation

Levee evaluation findings:

Inadequate embankment and foundation stability– Up to 8 miles of Sacramento River East Levee – Up to 3.7 miles of Arcade Creek levees

Up to 2500’ of Erosion sites along Sacramento River

Encroachments and Vegetation


USACE Encroachment Assessment

USACE criteria for Acceptable, Minimally Acceptable, and

Unacceptable encroachments:

USACE Encroachment AssessmentSummary of USACE Periodic Inspection Reports (PIR’s)

AR-04 & 05 Encroachments Rated Unacceptable Examples include retaining walls (non complaint) within levee

section, buildings within 15 feet, fencing within O&M corridor.

Sac-D Encroachments Rated Unacceptable Examples include abandoned building within levee, locomotive

and railcars stored on top of levee, floodwall penetrations, encroachments within O&M corridor impeding access.

MA-9 Encroachments Rated Unacceptable Examples include irrigation lines and retaining walls within levee,

swimming pools at levee toe, abandoned irrigation facilities, fencing and landscaping impeding maintenance access.

USACE Encroachment AssessmentSummary of USACE Periodic Inspection Reports (PIR’s)

AR-03 (North Levee NEMDC to Arden) Encroachments Rated Unacceptable Examples include landside fencing on levee, unpermitted

encroachments (utilities, buildings) within and on levee. North Area Streams (NEMDC East, Arcade, Dry Creek)

Encroachments Rated Unacceptable Examples include landside fencing within O&M corridor,

and numerous utilities some abandoned.

Examples of permitted encroachments contributing to USACE “Unacceptable” rating

Railroad tracks and material storage impede

maintenance and inspection access


Vegetation, Retaining Wall, Access Impeded


Dense Landscaping Impedes Inspection

Fencing and Structures Impede Landside Access


Building, Fencing Impede Access


Landscaping, Building Impede Landside Access


Vegetation, Fencing, Structures Impede Inspection and Access


Abandoned Irrigation

Development of assessment criteria Formulated based on Title 23, USACE and ULDC criteria

Types of encroachments addressed Levee Penetrations (handled under geotechnical evaluation) Landscaping and vegetation (handled under vegetation

white paper) Buildings Retaining Walls Stairways Fences Electrical Landscape Irrigation

Draft Encroachment White Paper Overview

Draft Encroachment White Paper Overview

Proposed classifications:

Significant Threat to Levee Integrity – Remediate or remove prior to FEMA certification

Lower Threat to Levee and/or Impedes Operations, Maintenance, and Inspection - Remediate or remove within three years of certification

Compliant permitted encroachments

Next Steps

Application of Draft White Paper Evaluation of over 2,000 Non-Vegetation Encroachments

(majority not documented by permit) Finalize White Paper Present CVFPB with Findings

Coordinate with Encroachment owner Request CVFPB to modify or revoke permit

Next Steps - Timeline

Estimated certification timeline should the non-Federal partners implement the improvements necessary for certification ahead of the USACE:

American River Levees Construction by the USACE is completed in 2014 FEMA Certification one year after construction completion Bring Category 1 encroachments into compliance within six months of construction completion Bring Category 2 encroachments into compliance within three years of certification

North Sacramento Streams Levees (NEMDC, Arcade, Dry, and Robla creeks) Construction completed in four to six years FEMA Certification within one year of construction completion Bring category 1 encroachments into compliance within six months of construction completion Bring category 2 encroachments into compliance within three years of construction completion

Sacramento River East Levee (American River confluence to Freeport) Construction completed in four to six years FEMA Certification within one year of construction completion Bring category 1 encroachments into compliance within six months of construction completion Bring category 2 encroachments into compliance within three years of construction completion

Discussion

Documents

Sacramento Area Levee Accreditation Key Results from Encroachment Analysis