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

February 2023 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 a demonstration cut-off wall panel. Testing will occur following 28 days of cure time. Construction will last for three years.

ii.     Modifications to Plant 1B and 1A have been included in the project. 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.   The demonstration section has been completed, including a new slurry wall mix design and construction method. Core tests are in progress.

iv.   SAFCA/State continues coordinating with the Corps on SMUD, AT&T and PGE relocations which are underway but have delayed the start of levee construction. The team also works with the City of Sacramento on waterline and service connections along Garden Highway.

Reach B

i.      Construction continued on Reach B including relocation of the Riverside Canal and replacement of other Natomas Water Company facilities. The Corps will now acquire and borrow material from the Port of Sacramento, which is needed for the landside seepage berm.

ii.     Outfall, discharge pipes, pumps, and electrical replacement have been completed. O&M training and official pump testing are complete.

iii.   Construction at the I-5 window crossing the Sacramento River south of Bayou Road which began in 2021, this project is at 95% completion, remaining items will be performed as site conditions improve.

Reach C

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

Reach D

i.      The reconstruction of Pumping Plant 4, discharge pipes, and outfall structure is substantially complete. The plant will be non-operational this flood season as the electrical protection equipment delivery is scheduled for September 2023. Official pump testing utilizing an emergency generator is scheduled for February 2023. Following the pump testing, the Corps will remove the backup generator.

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 its contracting group to advertise the project for construction. The contract award has been delayed until April awaiting right-of-way certification and utility relocation. However, construction is still scheduled for 2023 and 2024.

ii.     SAFCA has acquired all the right of way for construction and utility relocations and has physical possession of the property. 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.

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, relocation or design around the WAPA tower, and the borrow source currently proposed from the former Brookfield property now owned by SAFCA.  The 100% are currently under review.

ii.     Critical issues include right-of-way acquisition (some of which require relocations); WAPA tower (lead time for relocation of more than a year); utility relocations and borrow source. Based on potential right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation delays, the Corps is revising its 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 the acquisition of rights needed to complete patrol road and fence relocations. This project will continue through 2023 as these contract modifications are negotiated and rights of way are acquired.

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. All tree removal has been completed. The levee construction is scheduled to be performed 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 of the current location. Design team meetings take occur bi-weekly. 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. The 100% plans were submitted and reviewed by the design team in October with no significant issues identified.  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 concurs 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.