NATOMAS LEVEE PROJECT

Natomas Levee Project—U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 

Goal:  Complete levee improvements started by SAFCA/State to provide Natomas Basin at least 200-year flood protection

Project Status:  Project is fully authorized by Congress (2014 Water Resources and Reform Development Act).  Appropriations are made on an annual basis

Cost Sharing Partners:  SAFCA (local) and Central Valley Flood Protection Board (State)

Operation and Maintenance Responsibility:  Reclamation District No. 1000

Construction Status:  See Construction Phasing Map

December 2020 Status:

Reach A

   i.      The Corps issued its 95% plans for this reach early in August and 100% plans are due January 2021 which will address utility relocations and modifications to Pumping Plants 1A and 1B.

   ii.      SAFCA is in the process of acquiring necessary right of way including 5 homes upstream of I-80 and 7 homes downstream; relocation assistance is being provided to existing residents of the acquired homes.

   iii.      A virtual public meeting was held November 16; the issues raised by the public included tree removals, traffic safety and concerns about potential damage to homes due to construction activities

   iv.       of trees will commence soon.  Contract award is scheduled for September 2021 with cutoff wall and adjacent levee construction starting in spring 2022.

Reach B

   i.      Clearing and grubbing has been completed including the removal of 3 residential structures.

   ii.      Levee construction will commence in spring 2021 unless identified borrow sites become available sooner. 

   iii.      Design of the project to close the I-5 window crossing the Sacramento River in Reach B is complete but the bid process has been suspended pending negotiations between Caltrans and DWR/SAFCA on a framework agreement on all NLIP projects impacting Caltrans facilities.

Reach C

   i.      The Reach C project was completed by SAFCA several years ago and the Districts’ role is now providing annual maintenance activities in this reach.

Reach D

   i.      The contract for reconstruction of Pumping Plant 4 is scheduled to be awarded by the end of 2020 with construction to commence in Spring 2021. 

   ii.      The levee work on Reach D was completed last spring, but several “punch-list” items which impact District operations and maintenance have not been completed.  The District continues to work with DWR and SAFCA to ensure the Corps’ contractor addresses them to our satisfaction.

Reach E

   i.      The Sacramento District design team has requested their partners at the Walla Walla District amend the previous plans to meet their standard for 65% design criteria. Despite the delay, 90% plans are still scheduled for January with contract award in July 2021 (construction 2022 and 2023). 

   ii.      SAFCA and State DWR continue working on right of way acquisition.

Reach F

   i.      Reach F is along the Natomas East Main Drain Canal from Sankey Road to Elverta Road.  It is being designed concurrently with Reach G

   ii.      The Corps of Engineers and non-federal sponsors (NFS) held the 10% design review in August.  The Corps preliminary design does not include cut-off walls but does include levee widening—currently on both land and waterside.  NFS are recommending no waterside fill and will have our geotechnical consultant review the design which may suggest some cutoff walls and consistent design with Reach G.

   iii.      The project team reviewed the preliminary design and provided input on the proposed design.  Current plans propose levee widening and potentially limited cutoff walls.  Current schedule is for 35% plans by January 2021 with Contract Award in spring 2022.

Reach G

   i.      Reach G is along the Natomas East Main Drain Canal from Elverta Road to south of Elkhorn Blvd.   It is being designed concurrently with Reach F.

   ii.      The Corps of Engineers and NFS held the 10% design review in August.  The Corps preliminary design includes some limited cutoff walls and levee widening with landside slope flattening (3:1) and patrol road the entire length similar to Reach E. 

   iii.      Next milestone is 35% plans in January 2021.  Current schedule is for contract award in March 2022.

Reach H

   i.      Levee cutoff walls, slope flattening and levee restoration work has been completed for 2020.   Patrol / maintenance road grading, fence relocations, and restoration of East Levee Road will continue into 2021 weather permitting.

   ii.      The permanent reconnection of the new discharge pipes placed during levee construction to the existing pipes at Pumping Plant 8 was completed except for two where the existing pipes that were found to have existing damage.  A temporary connection for these two pipes was made for this flood season with a permanent fix proposed for 2021.  

Reach I

   i.      Construction of the cutoff wall is complete.

   ii.      The separate contract (Reach I Contract 2) to construct a patrol / maintenance road and perform levee slope flattening has been delayed due to right of way acquisition issues with construction scheduled for 2023.