05/19/2006 GAAS:332:06 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Print Version | Email / Share
Gov. Schwarzenegger Signs $4.5 Billion Levee Repair and Flood Control Component of Strategic Growth Plan
"Public safety is my No. 1 priority," said Gov. Schwarzenegger at a meeting of Central Valley mayors in Stockton. "The bond, along with our agreement with the Federal government and funds from the state, will allow us to fix the most critical levee sites before the next flood season and shore up our deteriorating levee system in the years to come."
With the Governor's signature, the bond will be placed on the November ballot. Earlier this week, he signed the $20 billion transportation bond and the $2.85 billion housing bond. He is planning to sign the education bond on Saturday, May 19.
Highlights of the housing bond include:
Evaluation, Repair, and Replacement of Central Valley Levees and Flood Control Infrastructure: $3 billion
Will fund urgent repairs and essential improvements of levees and other flood control facilities in the Central Valley and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
Funds will also leverage federal and local dollars to fund flood prevention projects and improve disaster preparedness.
Bond funds will be used for programs such as:
- Evaluation and repair of the state/federal flood control system, addressing ongoing erosion, seepage and stability distress.
- Modifications and improvements to increase flood protection for urban areas, such as Folsom Dam modifications, American River Common features, south Sacramento streams, and other projects.
- Ongoing local assistance for Delta Levee Subventions and special flood control projects to reduce the risk of Delta levee failure.
Flood Control Subventions: $500 million
Will help pay the state's share of flood control projects outside the Central Valley. Currently, the state owes approximately $160 million to projects that are already underway or have been completed. Bond funding, combined with other funding mechanisms, would cover anticipated subvention payments for the next 10 years.
Flood Protection Corridor, Bypasses and Mapping: $290 million
Funds will be used for:
- Creation of new levees in coordination with the construction and preservation of setback levees, flood corridors and bypasses.
- Completion of flood hazard and alluvial fan floodplain mapping necessary for proper flood infrastructure investments.
Storm Water Flood Management: $300 million
Will provide grants to local entities to cost share storm water runoff projects, consistent with an integrated regional water management plan.
Only projects outside the State Plan of Flood Control are eligible for these funds.
Earlier this month, the state and federal government entered a Memorandum of Understanding. where the federal agencies agreed to complete all federal permitting by June 21, 2006 in order to ensure critical repairs are completed before the next flood season. If any federal agency cannot meet the critical path timelines agreed to in the MOU, the agency is authorized to invoke applicable emergency procedures under existing law to issue the permits. Without this agreement levee repairs would have taken two or three years to complete. As part of the agreement, California would be required to ensure that the projects are planned to "avoid jeopardizing threatened or endangered species, maintain water quality and consideration of the relevant environmental effects."
In February, the Governor declared a State of Emergency for California's levee system and ordered that the California Department of Water Resources develop a plan to begin immediate repairs to prevent catastrophic flooding and loss of life. The Governor's emergency declaration allows state agencies to begin repair work immediately by fast-tracking State environmental permits and utilizing emergency contracting procedures. These same emergency procedures were invoked by Gov. Wilson to repair damaged freeways following the Northridge earthquake in 1994. On levee repairs, though, federal permits are also required under the federal Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Protection Act and other federal laws.
Since Gov. Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency, the Department of Water Resources has evaluated approximately 50 levee erosion sites primarily along the Sacramento River Flood System, met frequently with state and federal resources agencies to address all environmental permitting processes, began design of repairs for the 29 critical erosion sites and evaluated rock supplies for construction this year.
Gov. Schwarzenegger has a long history of working to improve the state's levee system.
In February, Governor Schwarzenegger requested that President Bush issue a federal disaster declaration for California levees. A federal disaster declaration would have suspended federal laws and regulations to allow repair work to being without the required permits. Since February, officials from the Schwarzenegger Administration and the Bush Administration have been engaged in discussions on how to streamline permitting without a pre-emptive disaster declaration.
Gov. Schwarzenegger met with President Bush in April to reiterate his request for federal regulatory relief in fixing the state's levee system during the President's recent visit to California.
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 March, the Governor hosted Sec. Chertoff for an aerial tour of California's levees.
In his Strategic Growth Plan, originally proposed during his State of the State speech, the Governor 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 the state's flood maintenance budget by 70 percent, and his proposed budget for 2006-07 more than doubles the current flood maintenance budget.
