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

July 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 is completing their pre-construction submittals.  Start of construction is delayed due to utility relocation delays.  Construction will last for three years.  

ii.     Work at Plants 1A and 1B are options for Reach A contract.  The District and SAFCA approved the agreement allowing for the Corps to modify the pump plants and 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 throughout the project.  The Corps has sent a contract modification to their contractor to incorporate these pumping plant outage restrictions.

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 the motor control timers were discovered, additional testing has been scheduled on 5July2022. This will need to be addressed before the plant is fully operational.  San Juan Road closure is expected to remain through August 2022. 

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.

Reach C

i.      Complete.

Reach D

i.       The reconstruction of Pumping Plant 4, discharge pipes and outfall structure has entered month 16. The plant will be non-operational this flood season as the electrical protection equipment procurement has been delayed. The Corps design team is currently working with PG&E to expedite permanent power connection. Completion target date of Plant 4 is September 2022. Emergency generation discussions with the Corps are ongoing, in the event permanent power is not available during this year’s flood season.

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 State, SAFCA and RD 1000 continue to work with the design team to resolve issues as the Corps works on the 100% plans which have been delayed several months until July.  The proposed borrow site is the Kaufman property adjacent to the project. Right of way acquisition is close to being completed allowing for contract award in November 2022 with construction in 2023 and 2024.

ii.     SAFCA has all the property acquisitions in escrow except for one. This includes the full acquisition of 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 which is scheduled to be completed in 2022.

Reach F

i.       The Corps submitted the 95% plans which are currently being reviewed by the State, SAFCA and RD 1000.   

ii.     State and SAFCA 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 a borrow source. A portion of the borrow may come from the Kaufmann site sharing with Reach E.  There is a deficit of 250,000 cy needed to complete Reach F and G; the team is looking at the Brookfield property for the remaining borrow.  

iii.   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 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.      Reach G notes are the same as Reach F notes above.

Reach H

i.      The Corps is processing the contract modification to complete the fence relocations, 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. Tree removal resume in late 2022.   Levee construction is scheduled to be complete in 2023.

Other Projects

i.      Plant 5 replacement—The Corps is negotiating with Stantec/Kleinfelder team for the Plant 5 design scope of work.  The District provided input on the design scope to be compatible with our other pump plants.

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.  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 with construction in 2023 and possibly 2024.

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