Gov. Schwarzenegger Expedites $211 million in Infrastructure Funds to Improve Levees in Northern California, Help Boost State’s Economy

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced that his administration is expediting the implementation of $211 million in Proposition 1E funds to four critical levee improvement projects in Northern California. The funding includes $49 million for the Natomas Levee Improvement Program in Sacramento County. The plan is part of the Governor's agenda to rebuild California's aging infrastructure while at the same time boosting the state's economy by creating jobs.

The Governor today also sent a letter (attached) to President Bush urging him to increase federal flood protection funding for California in his new budget and help streamline the process to approve projects.

"I came to Natomas today because it is a perfect example of why we must continue to rebuild levees in California to protect people and economic growth. We must do everything we can to protect Californians from dangerous floods that could harm communities, agriculture and our water supplies," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "This money is an important step in addressing the serious public safety concerns that have also put hundreds of millions of dollars of Natomas development in jeopardy."

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) is ready to fund four high priority early implementation projects with Proposition 1E funds. These are projects currently under construction or ready to go this year that are dependent on state funding. With a total of $211 million, the four projects include:

Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency, Natomas Levee Improvement Program (Sacramento County) $49 million.
Levee District No. 1 of Sutter County, Lower Feather River Setback Levee at Star Bend (Sutter County) $16.3 million.
Reclamation District 2103 (Wheatland), Bear River North Levee Rehabilitation Project (Yuba County) $7.4 million.
Three Rivers Levee Improvement Authority, Feather River Setback Levee (Yuba County) $138.5 million.

Today's action builds on the Governor's commitment to strengthen California's flood control system. Additionally, he has:

Signed legislation in October 2007 that will lead to the development of a comprehensive Central Valley Flood Protection Plan, reform the Reclamation Board to improve efficiency, require cities and counties to increase consideration of flood risks when making land use decisions and create a new standard in flood protection for urban development in the region.
Signed AB 140, the $4 billion levee repair and flood control bond element of the Strategic Growth Plan approved by voters in November 2006, and signed AB 142 that appropriated $500 million from the general fund to the Department of Water Resources for levee evaluation and repair.
Declared a State of Emergency in February 2006 for California's levee system and ordered the DWR to develop a plan to begin immediate repairs to prevent catastrophic flooding and loss of life. As a result, and with funding from AB 142, thirty-three of the most vulnerable levee sites in Northern California were repaired.

Last month, to fight unemployment and strengthen the economy, the Governor called an emergency meeting of his cabinet and instructed them to recommend ways to work with the legislature and speed the release of $29 billion in unallocated funds from the 2006 infrastructure bonds for the construction of roads, schools and levee repairs. The Governor has also called for the broad use of Performance Based Infrastructure (PBI) and established the Strategic Growth Council to promote economic, sustainable growth and development and meet the state's skilled workforce demands with 20,000 new engineers over the next decade.

Also last month, Governor Schwarzenegger joined with Pennsylvania Governor Rendell and New York City Mayor Bloomberg to reinvigorate federal investment in the nation's infrastructure by creating the "Building America's Future" coalition.