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

September 2022 Status:

Reach A

i.      The Contract was awarded in September 2021 to Ahtna-Great Lakes (joint venture) for the base contract levee work. The contractor has completed their pre-construction submittals and is mobilizing to initiate the test section for the cutoff wall construction. Construction will last for three years.

ii.     Modifications to Plant 1B have been included in the project and the Corps is expected to exercise the option to include Plant 1A by the end of September. The contract includes the provisions in the agreement between the District and SAFCA to ensure Plant 1A and 1B are operational during the flood season throughout the project and partial operation of Plant 1B during the irrigation season for rice drainage.

iii.   SAFCA/State continue coordinating with the Corps on SMUD, AT&T and PGE relocations which are underway but have delayed the start of construction.

Reach B

i.      Construction continued on Reach B including relocation of the Riverside Canal and replacement of other Natomas Water Company facilities. The Corps is working on logistics to acquire borrow material from the Port of Sacramento.

ii.     Outfall, discharge pipes, pumps and electrical replacement has been completed. Plant 3 was tested this past month, however issues with a temperature control switch were discovered, additional testing will need to be performed after switch installation. All four pumps are operational. San Juan Road has been reopened.

iii.   Construction at the I-5 window crossing the Sacramento River south of Bayou Road which began in 2021, has entered a second season and is scheduled be complete by November 2022. RD 1000 has issued temporary use permit to the contractor. A detour is in place at Garden Highway and North Bayou Rd, this will remain through mid-November.

Reach C

i.      The Reach C project is complete, and the District is providing the operation and maintenance.

Reach D

i.      The reconstruction of Pumping Plant 4, discharge pipes and outfall structure has entered month 17. The plant will be non-operational this flood season as the electrical protection equipment delivery is September 2023. Completion target date of Plant 4 is September 2022. Coordinating with USACE, M&H and NMWC related to minor temporary power for electrical building and exterior lighting after contractor demobilizes from site.

ii.     The Corps is working on the package to turn the previously completed levee improvements in Reach D over to the non-federal sponsors (and RD 1000) though the District has effectively taken over the O&M of the levee.

Reach E

i.      The plans and specifications for this reach are complete. The Corps is doing its final internal review and working with their contracting group to advertise the project for construction with contract award in November 2022. Construction will be in 2023 and 2024.

ii.     SAFCA has acquired all the right of way for construction and utility relocations. This includes the Brookfield property which could yield sufficient borrow for the remainder of the Natomas project. SAFCA is coordinating with PG&E for the relocation of the utility poles scheduled to be completed in 2022.

Reach F

i.      The State, SAFCA and RD 1000 have provided comments to the Corps on the 95% plans. We continue working with the Corps on key issues affecting design; particularly the proposed takes on properties with existing structures, the work near Pumping plant No. 6, relocate or design around WAPA tower, and the borrow source currently proposed from the former Brookfield property now owned by SAFCA.

ii.     Critical issues include right of way acquisition (some which require relocations); WAPA tower (lead time for relocation more than a year); utility relocations and borrow source. Based on potential right of way acquisition and utility relocation delays, the Corps is revising their schedule to delay construction until 2025 with completion as late as 2027. SAFCA is trying to reduce the right of way acquisition time to allow construction to commence sooner.

Reach G

i.      See notes above for Reach F as Reaches F and G are combined into a single design and construction contract.

Reach H

i.      Construction at Reach H continues, including fence relocations, landside lower patrol road and I-80 berm. SAFCA continues acquisition of rights needed to complete patrol road and fence relocations. This project will continue through 2022 as these contract modifications are negotiated and rights of way acquired. Paving has been completed from the Arden/Garden Connector to Pump Plant #8.

Reach I

i.      Construction of the cutoff wall has been completed and project finalization and turnover to SAFCA and the District is in progress. A final construction report has been submitted for SAFCA and the District to review.

ii.     Design for the Reach I Contract 2 to construct a patrol / maintenance road and perform levee slope flattening has been completed. SAFCA is working on real estate acquisition and coordination with utilities for relocation. Contract for tree removal was awarded in January 2022 and has stopped now. The remaining trees will be removed in late 2022 (November/December). The levee construction is scheduled to be done in 2023.

Other Projects

i.      Plant 5 replacement—The Corps has awarded the design contract to the Stantec/Kleinfelder team. The new pumping plant will be located approximately 400 feet east from the current location. A kick-off meeting was held on-site in late August with the District providing our recommendations and standards to be compatible with our other pumping plants. The current schedule is for construction in 2024.

Highway 99 Window – HDR Engineers are doing the design for the closure of the Highway 99 crossing gap at the Natomas Cross Canal. 95% plans were reviewed in May 2022 with no significant issues identified. Next milestone is 100 % plan review in October 2022. Caltrans is now engaged with the project and provided their comments on the proposed lane closures to allow the cutoff wall constructed across the travel lanes but concur in general with the proposal. The schedule is to award the contract in June 2023 and construction completed by December 2023.

For additional updates on the Natomas Levee Project go here and sign up for the Army Corps mailing list.