Flood Protection Information

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.