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FloodSAFE California

FloodSAFE California

Department of Water Resources
1416 Ninth Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 942836
Sacramento, CA 94236

Flood Topics FloodSAFE California News Archive

News Archive

  • Local Levee Assistance Program (formerly entitled, "Local Levee Grant Program") Update - Soliciting Comments on Revised Draft Guidelines

    The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is soliciting comments on revised draft guidelines for the Local Levee Assistance Program (LLAP) for the fiscal year 2008-09 competitive funding cycle.

    In spring 2007, DWR circulated guidelines for the LLAP (formerly entitled, "Local Levee Grant Program") to establish the process and criteria to solicit applications, evaluate proposals, and award grants. These draft guidelines were initially released for public review and comment last spring, and DWR accepted public comments through April 30, 2007. Several significant comments were received and have been incorporated into revised draft guidelines (PDF: 191KB). For reference, a summary of April 2007 comments (PDF: 16KB) has been posted on the FloodSAFE website.

    Because incorporation of the 2007 comments resulted in many changes, DWR is now soliciting a final round of public review and comment on guidelines. The revised draft guidelines (PDF: 191KB) have been posted on the FloodSAFE website.

    Written comments will be accepted until 5 p.m. Friday, April 25, 2008. Comments may be submitted via email to floodsafe@water.ca.gov, or mailed to 3310 El Camino Avenue, Suite 180, Sacramento, CA 95821, Attention: Local Levee Assistance Program.

    DWR will release the final Proposal Solicitation Package (PSP) in late April 2008, and a public workshop is being planned for May to discuss the PSP and to answer procedural and application questions. Workshop details and application timelines will be announced upon release of the final guidelines and PSP.

    Under this program, funding will be available for two key activities: (1) to assist local flood control management agencies to evaluate and perform urgently needed repairs to levees and other flood control facilities that are critically eroded or unstable (Local Levee Urgent Repair); and (2) to assist local flood management agencies with geotechnical exploration of existing local levees (particularly those at risk of losing Federal Emergency Management Agency certification) and evaluation of the collected data with regard to stability, seepage, erosion and underseepage (Local Levee Evaluation).

    In the current funding cycle, $40 million will be available for local levee urgent repairs, and $20 million will be available for local levee evaluation.

  • Update on the Draft Guidelines for the Local Levee Grant Program

    Guidelines for the Local Levee Grant Program are under final review. Upon release of program guidelines, solicitation for project proposals will be announced. Program applications and final guidelines will be posted on the FloodSAFE web site. Subscribers to the FloodSAFE distribution list will be notified directly.

    If you would like to be added to the FloodSAFE distribution list, please email your request and contact information to floodsafe@water.ca.gov, or you may call (916) 654-6640.

    Schedule of Meetings

    • December 7, 2007
      Riverside
      Overview of Alluvial Fans

    • January 4, 2008
      Borrego Springs
      Risk Factors on Fans

    • February 8, 2008
      Palmdale
      Development on Alluvial Fans

    • March 14, 2008
      Location TBA
      Best Management Practices on Developed Alluvial Fans

    • April 11, 2008
      Location TBA
      Outline for Planning Guidelines and Model Ordinance

    • May 16, 2008
      Location TBA
      Continued Discussion of Planning Guidelines and Model Ordinance

    • June 6, 2008
      Location TBA
      Finalize Task Force Recommendations

  • Alluvial Fan Task Force Meeting - January 4, 2008

    The Alluvial Fan Task Force (AFTF) will hold its second meeting on Friday, January 4, 2008, hosted by San Diego County Supervisor Bill Horn at La Casa del Zorro Resort in Borrego Springs. A total of seven meetings are planned in communities most affected by rapid growth on alluvial fans as projected by local governments through 2030. (See inset at right for meeting schedule.)

    The AFTF has been appointed by the Department of Water Resources (DWR) to address issues related to unique flood hazards associated with the rapid rate of development on alluvial fans. Task force members include federal, state, and local floodplain management officials, city, and county representatives, and stakeholders with development, construction, and environmental interests. Funding for the task force has been provided by FEMA under the Pre-Mitigation Disaster Planning Grant Program with a 25 percent match from DWR.

    The principle hazards associated with alluvial fan flooding at the base of mountains are high-velocity, debris-laden flows resulting from a series of storms, particularly following wildfires common in semiarid regions. Alluvial fans are most prevalent in San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Kern, Orange, Imperial, and San Diego counties.

    The task force is charged with reviewing the state of knowledge of alluvial fan flooding and developing a Model Ordinance that will reduce long-term flood damages on alluvial fans and provide land use guidelines for development on alluvial fans. The ordinance, to be developed collaboratively by AFTF members under the guidance of a professional facilitator, is intended for voluntary adoption by local governments.

    Findings of the Alluvial Fan Task Force will be reported to the Legislature and released to the public. In addition to developing recommendations and the Model Ordinance, AFTF products will include GIS maps of alluvial fans, videotaped educational presentations, briefing memos, academic literature references, and technical reports.

    For additional information on the Alluvial Fan Task Force, please visit http://wri.csusb.edu/AFTF/AFTFweb.htm

  • Pre-Advertisement Workshop for FloodSAFE Planning Support Contracts

    A Pre-Advertisement Contracting Workshop for prospective FloodSAFE consultants will be held Wednesday, December 12, 2007 from 9:30 a. m. - 12 p.m. at the Secretary of State Building Auditorium, 1500 11th Street, Sacramento, California 95814.

    The workshop will include information on upcoming consulting contracts, including anticipated work, timing, etc. DWR staff will answer general questions and questions of clarification raised by workshop participants. The session is open to any interested firm or individual.

    For additional information, please visit: http://www.water.ca.gov/calendar/index.cfm?meeting=3025

  • California Water Plan Update 2009 - Advisory Committee Meeting

    The Department of Water Resources is required by statute (the Water Code) to prepare updates of the California Water Plan every five years and to form an advisory committee to assist in this effort. The Advisory Committee (AC) is comprised of a cross-section of diverse stakeholders. It is a consensus-seeking group of statewide organizations to represent communities of interest. DWR is committed to an open and transparent process that seeks participation and deliberative input from stakeholders and the general public.

    An evolution from Water Plan Update 2005, the Advisory Committee for the next update will focus on statewide policy issues and initiatives, including statewide flood management planning, while regional coordination and in-depth technical discussions are delegated to other work groups. All California Water Plan Advisory Committee meetings are open to the public.

    The next California Water Plan Update 2009 Advisory Committee meeting will be held Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at the Double Tree Hotel in Sacramento. Registration will be 8:30-9:00 a.m., and the meeting will conclude at 4 p.m.

    Planned topics include:

    • Review and Comment on updated Mission, Vision, Principles, and other introductory Water Plan draft text
    • Assumptions and Estimates Draft Report
    • Recap and discussion of Plan Content provided in the October Plenary and other venues
    • Update on Tribal meetings
    • Working session on Scenarios and Climate Change (continue work started at the Nov. 29 Scenarios workshop)
    • Update on Analytical Tools

    For additional information, please visit: http://www.waterplan.water.ca.gov/calendar/calendar.cfm

  • The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is soliciting grant applications for the Flood Protection Corridor Program (FPCP) 2007 competitive funding cycle beginning August 31, 2007.

    Proposals must be submitted in hard copy with a valid signature from the project sponsor and in digital electronic format on a compact disc (CD) or flash drive no later than 3 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time) on Friday, November 2, 2007.

    Five separate pre-submittal workshops will be held to provide opportunities for applicants to become familiar with application materials and to resolve questions that may arise during the application process. The October 2, 2007 Sacramento workshop will be webcast to allow Internet users to follow the proceedings.

    Although registration is not required, participants planning to attend in person at any of the workshops or via webcast (Sacramento) are asked to register online.

    Additional information about the FPCP, the types of projects that have been funded in the past, and answers to frequently asked questions are available on the FPCP website at www.dfm.water.ca.gov/fpcp/.

    If you would like to be added to the FloodSAFE distribution list, please email your request and contact information to floodsafe@water.ca.gov, or you may call (916) 654-6640.

  • Update on the Draft Guidelines for the Local Levee Grant Program and the Flood Protection Corridor Program

    Guidelines for the Local Levee Grant Program and the Flood Protection Corridor Program are under final review, and their release is imminent.

    Upon release of program guidelines, solicitation for project proposals will be announced. Program applications and final guidelines will be posted on the FloodSAFE web site. Subscribers to the FloodSAFE distribution list will be notified directly.

    If you would like to be added to the FloodSAFE distribution list, please email your request and contact information to floodsafe@water.ca.gov, or you may call (916) 654-6640.

  • The deadline for public comment on the draft Guidelines for the Local Levee Grant Program and the Flood Protection Corridor Program has been extended to May 11, 2007 at 5 p.m.

    Only written comments on the draft guidelines will be accepted, and comments may be submitted via email to floodsafe@water.ca.gov, or mailed to 3310 El Camino Avenue, Sacramento, California 95821, Attention: Local Levee Grant Program or Flood Protection Corridor Program, as appropriate.

  • The Department of Water Resources (DWR) has received seven grant applications for Propositions 1E and 84 funding of early implementation projects.

    The applicants meeting the May 1st deadline propose early funding for State-Federal Flood Control System Modification Projects in Lake, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties.


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