California’s Central ValleyFlood System Improvement Framework

California Levees RoundtableMarch 27, 2009

California Levees RoundtableMarch 27, 2009

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Agenda

Origins of the Roundtable

Central Valley Flood System Improvement Framework

Short Term Plan

Long Term Approach

Outstanding Issues Ahead

Discussion

Origins of the CA Levees Roundtable

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July Levee ConferenceJuly Levee

Conference

August Vegetation Symposium

August Vegetation Symposium

CA Levees Roundtabl

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CA Levees Roundtabl

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Corps’ Draft “White Paper”

Corps’ Draft “White Paper”

Why Was the Roundtable Established?

Recognition of high risk to public safety due to levee erosion, encroachments, seepage, channel capacity & vegetation management

Draft Corps “White Paper” on the “Treatment of Vegetation Within Local Flood Damage Reduction Systems”

Issued by the US Army Corps of Engineers in April 2007 Triggered by devastation of New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina in

2005 Enforcement of existing levee maintenance standard

National standard poses major challenges for the Central Valley Flood Management System

NEEDED COLLABORATIVE SOLUTION 4

California Levees Roundtable Goals

Establish a dialog among the leadership of levee maintaining agencies and resources agencies regarding maintenance on California’s Central Valley levees.

Develop collaborative relationships among the stakeholders to work toward policy solutions regarding maintenance of California’s Central Valley levees.

Achieve consensus on broad policy guidance on California levee vegetation standards that protect public safety and critical habitat.

Gain agreement on a process and next steps toward establishing and implementing sustainable California levee maintenance standards, while conserving or enhancing existing habitat for fish and wildlife species.

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Roundtable Agreements

Public safety is the top priority

Vegetation management is only one of many issues that threaten levee integrity

Draft a phased system-wide plan to address highest risks to levee stability and public safety first (the Framework)

Includes short- and long-term elements

Levee maintaining agencies should defer any substantial vegetation removal along levees while the plan is being developed

Any vegetation removal to comply with applicable State and Federal laws

There is an urgent need to reduce risk throughout the Central Valley by applying a system-wide remedy to levee threats

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The Framework

Short-term Framework for flood system improvements that are already underway or will be initiated before a comprehensive plan (CVFPP) is ready in 2012

Geographic scope of Framework same as CVFPP

Activities outlined in the Framework are focused on addressing five threats to improve public safety

Channel Capacity Seepage Erosion Encroachments Vegetation

No single threat given priority in the short-term7

Important Elements of the Short-term Framework

Inspections Enforcements Maintenance Early

Implementation Projects

Emergency Response

Public Outreach Data Collection Project Planning

Feasibility Studies Ongoing Flood

Protection Projects Research Environmental

Considerations Coordination Issues to Resolve Implementation

Roles

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Interim Levee Vegetation Inspection Criteria

Criteria apply on: Entire landside slope plus a 10-feet wide easement

beyond the landside toe. Top 20 feet (slope length) of waterside levee slope.

Trees trimmed to five feet above the ground (12 foot clearance above the crown road) and thinned enough for visibility and access

Brush, weeds, or other such vegetation over 12 inches high blocking visibility should be trimmed, thinned, mowed, burned, dragged, or otherwise removed in an allowed manner.

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Interim Levee Vegetation Inspection Criteria

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Interim Levee Vegetation Inspection Criteria

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Rated Items: Grass/BrushUnacceptable

Rated Items: Grass/BrushMinimally Acceptable

Rated Items: Grass/BrushAcceptable

Rated Items: TreesUnacceptable

Rated Items: TreesMinimally Acceptable

Rated Items: TreesAcceptable

LMA Maintenance Rating: 2007/2008 Comparison

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42

1825

64

39

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70N

um

ber

of L

MA

's

A M U2007 2008

Maintenance Deficiencies: Percentage of System Levee Miles

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%Threshold %

2007

2008

Vegetation Trim/Thin TreesEncroachments Animal ControlErosion Crown SurfaceOther

2007 2008

Vegetation 43% 24%

Trim/Thin Trees 10% 4%

Encroachments 6% 1%

Animal Control 13% 3%

Erosion 3% 2%

Crown Surface 6% 1%

Other <1% <1%

Total 83% 36%

Maintenance Deficiencies: Percentage of System Levee Miles

Important Milestones of Framework

LMAs to maintain levee vegetation according to the DWR’s Interim Levee Inspection Criteria for Vegetation

Levees in the Central Valley to be in compliance with the interim vegetation requirements by November 1, 2010

Report by LMAs of compliance with interim vegetation standards by November 1, 2009

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Much Has Already Been Accomplished

Significant progress made in 2008! Implementation of Interim Inspection Criteria System wide investigations proceeding Portions of the system meet Corps standards

Agreement to measure progress toward remaining Framework goals annually

Corps and DWR

Flood System to remain “active” in PL 84-99 Eligibility reviewed annually Eligibility reconsidered in 2012

Corps HQ letter, January 9, 2009 Sets requirements for extension of PL84-99 eligibility

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Long-term Approach

Conserve and enhance riparian habitat on the waterside of levees

Aggressively pursue compliance with Corps levee standards including vegetation using:

Improved maintenance inspections

Phased vegetation management practices

Regional variances

Engineered alternatives

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Long-Term Approach (continued)

Fully integrate the short-term activities with California FloodSAFE initiative

System-wide Central Valley Flood Protection Plan (CVFPP)

Development underway with implementation scheduled to begin in 2012

Develop Multi Species and Floodplain Conservation Strategy

Conduct research on effects of vegetation and vegetation management on levee integrity/performance

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Continued Collaboration and Next Steps

Roundtable participants are committed to broad based stakeholder collaboration

Many specifics of the Framework will be resolved during the next four years as implementation progresses

Levee integrity concerns will be addressed collaboratively by federal, State, and local agencies during the development and implementation of the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan and the California FloodSAFE initiative

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Outstanding Issues Ahead

Define standardized maintenance processes and responsibilities of LMAs

Address authorized and unauthorized encroachments

Processes for identification and enforcement

Develop stable funding mechanisms at federal, state and local levels

Assist LMAs achieve stable and sustainable funding

Work with FEMA on levee certification issues

Complete research initiatives26

Outstanding Issues Ahead (continued)

Identify applicable environmental law requirements relating to short and long-term actions

Develop CA vision addressing environmental protection and public safety concurrently

Define opportunities for LMAs to cost effectively mitigate impacts of levee maintenance

Develop programmatic approaches for environmental compliance

Define ESA consultation or permitting alternatives

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For More Information

Framework available at http://www.cvfpb.ca.gov/

Participant Agencies Contact Persons: CORPS Paige Caldwell (916) 557-6903FWS Michael Hoover (916) 414-6704NMFS Howard Brown (916) 930-3608FEMA Kathleen Schaefer (510) 627-7129

DWR Gary Hester (916) 653-6870CVFPB Jay Punia (916) 574-0609DFG Scott Flint (916) 653-9719

SAFCA Peter Buck (916) 874-4581RD 2068 Mike Hardesty (707) 678-5412

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Staff Recommendation

Staff recommends that the Board approve “California’s Central Valley Flood System Improvement Framework” developed by the California Levees Roundtable.

Staff recommends that the Board direct its Executive Officer in collaboration with the Department of Water Resources to submit the Framework Document on behalf of the State, to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers demonstrating, the many ongoing and planned system-wide improvements and seek temporary extension of PL 84-99 eligibility based on the U.S Army Corps of Engineer’s Director of Civil Works January 9, 2009 memorandum.

Questions?

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