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

March 2021 Status:

Reach A

    i.      The District, SAFCA, and State provided comments on the 100% plans on March 1.  There are still some issues with the patrol road design as well as Plants 1A and B which need to be addressed before final bid plans are complete.

    ii.      SAFCA continues acquiring necessary right of way including 5 homes upstream of I-80 and 7 homes downstream. Tree removal is complete for 2020 with the majority of the trees being removed; the remaining trees on land still being acquired will be removed in December 2021.   The District is working with SAFCA on existing rights for the Plant 1 outfall structures work.

    iii.      Contract award is still scheduled for September 2021 with cutoff wall and adjacent levee construction starting in spring 2022. The Corps anticipates three years to complete Reach A.

Reach B

    i.      Limited construction (weather permitting) continues on Reach B including the relocation of the Riverside Canal and replacement of other Natomas Water Company facilities with an underground pipe.  In addition, levee work continues as borrow material is available

    ii.      The project to close the I-5 window crossing the Sacramento River in Reach B remains suspended (design complete) pending negotiations between Caltrans and SAFCA/DWR.

    iii.      The project schedule has slipped slightly due to delays in certifying a revised Environmental Document and securing a Caltrans permit.

Reach C

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

Reach D

    i.      The contract for the reconstruction of Pumping Plant 4 has been awarded to Syblon Reid on February 11 and construction will begin this spring.  

    ii.      The prior work on the Natomas Cross Canal Levee and Vestal Drain relocation have been completed including the remaining restoration work to District and Natomas Water facilities.  The Corps is working on the package to turn the improvements over to the non-federal sponsors (and RD 1000) for operations and maintenance.

Reach E

    i.      The revised 65% plans have been completed; however, the project schedule has slipped with construction delayed by one year.  The 95% plans are now due in July (previous April) with project advertisement in May 2022 and award in July 2022 (construction 2023 and 2024).

    ii.      SAFCA and State DWR continue working on right of way acquisition and coordination with Sutter County on the Howsley Road bridge replacement.  The proposed borrow site has changed to the NBC Frazier-Bianchi site. 

Reach F

    i.      The 35% plans and design documents were submitted for review at the end of February. We will submit comments by mid-March.  The 65% plans are due in June.   RD 1000 is coordinating with SAFCA, DWR, and the Corps on a final design water surface profile as well as channel improvements south of Sankey Road to address potential overtopping during the 200-year flood.

    ii.      Current plans propose levee widening and potentially limited cutoff walls.  The current schedule is unchanged with Contract Award in 2022 and construction in 2023 and 2024; subject to change to avoid conflict with work in Reach E all of which affect traffic on Natomas Road.

Reach G

    i.      The 35% plans and design documents were submitted for review at the end of February. We will submit comments by mid-March.  The 65% plans are due in June.   RD 1000 is coordinating with SAFCA, DWR, and the Corps on a final design water surface profile as well as channel improvements south of Sankey Road to address potential overtopping during the 200-year flood.

    ii.      Current plans propose levee widening and potentially limited cutoff walls.  The current schedule is unchanged with Contract Award in 2022 and construction in 2023 and 2024; subject to change to avoid conflict with work in Reach E all of which affect traffic on Natomas Road.

Reach H

   i.      Levee work has been completed for the season and the project has been winterized.   Patrol/maintenance road grading, fence relocations, and restoration of East Levee Road will recommence in spring 2021.

   ii.      The District is working with SAFCA on modifications to Plant 8 to mitigate reduced capacity impacts due to the raised discharge pipes and minor impacts from the damaged pipes at pumps 6 and 7.  The work will require the replacement of one or more pumps/motors and will be implemented upon the completion of the Reach H Corps project. 

Reach I

    i.      Construction of the cutoff wall has been completed and project finalization and turnover to SAFCA and the District is in progress. 

    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.    Planning coordination between the Corps and State/SAFCA/District was paused but is now commencing again.  Construction is scheduled for 2023 or later.

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