Joint Hearing of the Judiciary Committee, the Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee,

1. Joint Hearing of the Judiciary Committee, the Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee, and the Insurance Committee of the California Assembly October 25, 2005 Flood Management and Prevention in California: Who Builds and Maintains California’s Flood Management System? Presented by Leslie F. Harder, Jr. Acting Deputy Director

2. DWR – Flood Management • Overview • Responsibilities • Flood Management White Paper Recommendations • DWR Initiatives

3. OVERVIEW • Central Valley Flood Control System • Flood Scenarios • Sacramento Basin – 200-year Flood Scenario • San Joaquin Basin – 200-year Flood Scenario • Sacramento Urban Area – 200-year Flood Scenario

4. OVERVIEW Central Valley Flood Control System • Levee system built between 1860 and 1960 • Most levees were built by locals and later enlarged and incorporated into the federal system • 1,600 miles of federal levees • 730 miles of non-federal levees in the Delta • Federal levees were built to handle design flows set by the US Army Corps of Engineers • The current reliability of most of the levees is not fully known

5. OVERVIEW Central Valley Flood Control System (continued) • The system protects: • 1 1/2 million acres • 190,000 parcels • 500,000 people • $47 billion in property • Partners include the Corps, The Reclamation Board, DWR, OES, Local Maintaining Agencies, Counties, and Cities • Once completed by the federal Government, levees are turned over to the State • The State then turned most of the levees over to LMAs for operation and maintenance

6. OVERVIEW Sacramento Basin – 200-year Floodplain Approximate Rated Level of Flood Protection: • Yuba City Area < 100 year • Marysville Area ~ 120 year • Natomas Area > 100 year • Sacramento Area ~ 100 year • West Sac Area ~ 150 year Based on recent remapping studies

7. OVERVIEW San Joaquin Basin – 200-year Floodplain Approximate Rated Level of Flood Protection: • Mendota North Area ~ 10 year • Firebaugh Area ~ 15 year • Modesto Area ~ 70 year • Stockton / French Camp Area ? Based on recent remapping studies

8. OVERVIEW Sacramento Urban Area – 200-year Flood Scenario

9. OVERVIEW Sacramento Urban Area – 200-year Flood Scenario (continued) Sacramento South of American River • >15 levee failures • 131,000 acres flooded • Average depth: 5.5 feet • Structures flooded: • 93,000 homes • 3,390 commercial • 560 industrial Natomas Region • >5 levee failures • 81,800 acres flooded • Average depth: 11 feet • Structures flooded: • 11,000 homes • 430 commercial • 13 industrial Estimated damages: $14 Billion(2005 price level)

10. DWR RESPONSIBILITIES • Floodplain Management • Levee and Channel Inspection and Maintenance • Delta and Suisun Marsh Flood Protection • Hydrologic Data Management and Flood Forecasting • Emergency Response

11. DWR RESPONSIBILITIES Floodplain Management • Map floodplains in partnership with FEMA throughout the State • Advise and audit communities on FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program • Administer the Proposition 13 flood control grant program • Manage Reclamation Board Encroachment Permit Program

12. DWR RESPONSIBILITIES Levee and Channel Inspectionand Maintenance • Inspect and evaluate the maintenance of all 1,600 miles of federal levees and all channels • Maintain over 300 miles of levees • Maintain flood control channels in the Sacramento Valley

13. DWR RESPONSIBILITIES Delta and Suisun Marsh Flood Protection • Assist financing of levee maintenance through the Delta Levees Subventions Program • Manage Special Projects for selected levees • Implement Levee Subsidence Control Plans • Respond to flood emergencies • Develop Delta Risk Management Strategies (DRMS) • Integrate flood control and ecosystem restoration in the North Delta

14. DWR RESPONSIBILITIES Hydrologic Data Management and Flood Forecasting • Forecast flows and stages in reservoirs and streams throughout the State • Develop and maintain hydrologic models • Survey snow pack • Operate the California Data Exchange Center (CDEC)

15. DWR RESPONSIBILITIES Emergency Response • Operate the State-Federal Flood Operations Center to gather and disseminate current flood information during floods • Request federal assistance to fight floods and restore flood control infrastructure • Provide technical assistance through the Office of Emergency Services during flood emergencies

17. FLOOD WARNINGS: Responding to California’s Flood Crisis The System’s Key Problems: • Aging Infrastructure • Increasing development in floodplains • Court decisions have increased the State’s liability • State, local, and federal funding for Flood Management has declined

18. FLOOD WARNINGS: Responding to California’s Flood Crisis • Key Strategies Included: • Maintain and Upgrade Levees • Improve Emergency Response • Update floodplain maps and provide better flood risk education to the public and and agencies that authorize development. • Mandatory Insurance for everyone protected by levees, regardless of the level of protection. • Sustainable funding to support flood management .

19. DWR INIATIVES TO RESPOND TO CALIFORNIA’S FLOOD CRISIS • DWR Flood Management Initiatives: • Remap urbanized areas in the Central Valley over the next 5 years • Add additional DWR maintenance crews • Improve Levee Inspection • Create Levee Database • Improve Emergency Response • Complete Delta Risk Management Strategy • Pursue Legislation to Improve California’s Flood Management Programs

20. Thank you for your attention