1. Why am I paying an assessment to Reclamation District No. 1000?
If you have an assessment on your tax bill labeled “RD 1000” your property is in our District and may flood should one of the levees fail or be overtopped. Therefore, your property is receiving a special benefit by our levee and drainage operations and maintenance and is being assessed in proportion to the benefit received.

2. How is my assessment calculated?
The District is divided into several geographic zones of benefit based on the potential depth of flooding should the perimeter levee system fail as well as interior drainage provided by the District. The District’s annual operations and maintenance costs are spread proportionally among the properties in Natomas. The assessment for each property is determined by the zone, the size of the parcel, and its land use (i.e. residential, commercial, industrial or agriculture) and the relative benefit assigned to that land use. The District has not raised its assessment rate since 1997.

3. Who is SAFCA?
The Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency or SAFCA is the regional flood control agency. They are a joint powers authority formed by the City of Sacramento, Sacramento County, Sutter County, the American River Flood Control District and Reclamation District 1000. SAFCA has a 13 member Board of Directors comprised of elected officials from each of the joint power agencies. Their purpose is to be the local partner with the Army Corps of Engineers and State of California on the planning and construction of major flood control improvements. However, give the significant flood risk facing Natomas and the need to urgently proceed with levee repairs, SAFCA has undertaken the design and construction of the Natomas Levee Improvement Project, which upon completion, will provide Natomas with a 200-year level of flood protection.

4. Why do I pay a flood control assessment to both SAFCA and RD 1000?
The assessment paid to SAFCA funds their planning effort plus the capital costs of the major flood control projects including the Natomas Levee Improvement Project (NLIP). The State of California is also providing significant funding for the NLIP and it is anticipated the Federal government will also provide its traditional cost share in the future. Assuming the normal State and Federal government funding the local share for these projects is about 10% to 20% of the total project costs Reclamation District No. 1000 assessments, on the other hand, are used to fund the day to day maintenance of the levees/canals/pump stations, small capital projects and the first response during a flood emergency.

5. How do I find out if I am in a floodplain and subject to flood insurance?
Under the National Flood Insurance Program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA, if you are in the FEMA floodplain where there is greater than a 1% chance of flooding in any year (typically referred to as the 100 year floodplain) you must have flood insurance for any federally backed home loan. To find out if you are in the FEMA floodplain you should call 916-264-5061 if you live in the City of Sacramento or 916-874-7517 if you live in the County of Sacramento. Currently all of the Natomas basin is in the FEMA 100-year floodplain. The Natomas Levee Improvement Project being constructed by SAFCA will address the problems on the exterior levee system and allow the levees to be “recertified” and the floodplain designation for most of Natomas to be removed. However, it is critical for residents and businesses alike to understand there is always a flood risk if you live behind a levee and it is prudent to carry flood insurance even if the levees are certified.

6. What should I do if I see a problem on the levee?
If you see a problem on the levee, immediately contact our District office at (916) 922-1449 and explain what you have seen. Whether during a flood or not, it is important that any leaks or boils be reported as soon as possible so our crews can assess the situation and take appropriate action to prevent degradation of the levee.

7. What is a levee “boil”?
A levee boil is caused by water seeping under the levee and pushing its way up to the surface on the landside of the levee. Since the water level is much higher in the river during a flood, the water being pushed under the levee is under pressure and when it reaches the surface it bubbles up like a small geyser, hence the term "boil". If the pressure is high, the water being forced under the levee may begin to push soil materials from within or under the levee. This can be a very dangerous situation because if enough material is eroded from underneath the levee, the levee could collapse allowing water to pour over the top and eventually fail the entire levee. The typical remedy for a boil is to ring it with sand bags high enough to equalize the pressure and stop the flow of water — or least reduce the pressure so no soil is being carried and the water flow is clear.