In working to stay ahead of the next raging winter, the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency can't afford to hit logjams.

That's why it is encouraging that SAFCA has scored several recent breakthroughs on plans to upgrade Natomas' levees, modify Folsom Dam and establish a financing plan to bring the entire Sacramento floodplain to a 200-year level of protection.

Lawsuit settled

SAFCA is planning a two-year, $576 million project to widen and fortify Natomas levees prone to seepage. Hundreds of thousands of truckloads of dirt will be needed. Residents of the Garden Highway filed an environmental lawsuit, which could have delayed the agency's ability to sell bonds and proceed with the project. But last month, both sides drafted a settlement, which the agency's board approved Thursday.

As part of that deal, SAFCA will not use the Garden Highway for construction traffic and will take other steps to limit the impact on residents. The agency has also agreed to seek a study of a new bicycle trail, meaning that a wider levee could bring safer cycling.

Kerridge sees the light

For far too many months, SAFCA's staff has been dealing with a misguided lobbying campaign by Natomas developers who want the governor to declare an emergency in the basin. Lawyer Greg Thatch and homebuilders alarmed by a pending building moratorium in Natomas claim that SAFCA's two-year schedule is too slow in bringing levees back up to federal standards. They claim an emergency declaration would...

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source: sacbee.com