03/17/2006 GAAS:171:06 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Print Version |
Gov. Schwarzenegger Details Dangers of Sacramento-Area Levees to Sec. Chertoff During Aerial Tour, Asks for Federal Emergency Declaration
"Public safety is my No. 1 concern," said Gov. Schwarzenegger. "If the federal government declares a federal State of Emergency, we can reduce from three years to one the amount of time it takes to fix our levees. It is our duty to act decisively to avert an imminent disaster."
A federal emergency declaration, combined with the Governor's emergency declaration, allows the state to streamline the permitting process to help ensure that levee repairs can be made quickly. This action cuts the repair process from the normal three years down to less than one - getting critical repairs underway before the next flood season.
Late Wednesday, the Assembly passed a $4.15 billion bond for flood control to repair and maintain levees and improve the flood control systems in the state including:
- At least $1 billion - Levee evaluation and repair.
- At least $1 billion - Flood control system improvements.
Funds to reach a goal of 200 year flood protection for urban areas. - At least $400 million - Delta levee subventions and other projects.
Funds in this section can be used for Special Flood Control Projects in the Delta as well as the Delta Levee Maintenance Subventions Program. - At least $700 million - Flood Control Subventions.
Pay the non-federal cost of flood control projects outside the State Plan of Flood Control. Currently, the state owes approximately $160 million to projects already underway. - At least $300 million - Flood protection corridor and bypasses.
For the creation of new levees and the construction and preservation of setback levees and flood corridors and bypasses. - At least $90 million - Flood plain mapping.
To complete flood hazard maps and floodplain mapping necessary to make proper flood infrastructure investments. - At least $500 million - Storm water flood management.
DWR can give grants to local entities to cost share (50/50) projects to manage storm water runoff. Projects must be consistent with an integrated regional water management plan. Projects in the State Plan of Flood Control are not eligible for these funds.
Gov. Schwarzenegger has a long history of working to improve the state's levee system.
On Feb. 24, the Governor declared a State of Emergency for California's levee system and has ordered that the California Department of Water Resources develop a plan to repair the levees this year. On his most recent trip to Washington, D.C., he met with members of the California delegation and leadership in the House and Senate to ask for federal funding to support California's efforts. He also pressed the issue in meetings with White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card and Sec. Chertoff.
In his Strategic Growth Plan, originally proposed during his State of the State speech, he called for spending billions to fix California's levee system. Many of California's levees were built to protect agricultural land a hundred years ago and not for the thousands of people who now live behind them.
Gov. Schwarzenegger also has a legislative history of working to repair our state's levees beyond the bonds. His 2005-06 budget increased flood maintenance budget by 70 percent, and his proposed budget for 2006-07 more than doubles this year's flood maintenance budget.
Link to Letter from Gov. Schwarzenegger to Lt. General Carl Strock of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
