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

May 2021 Status:

Reach A

  i.      The Corps completed the final construction plans for bid which includes the levee work and Plant 1B as the base contract with Plan 1A as an option pending resolution of right of way with State Lands Commission.  State and SAFCA are working with the Corps to resolve some design details prior to construction.  

  ii.      SAFCA is working with Corps on a revised Take Letter to certify the final right of way by May 2021.  

  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 including Pump Plant 1A and 1B modifications.

Reach B

  i.      Construction continues on Reach B including relocation of the Riverside Canal and replacement of other Natomas Water Company facilities and levee construction south of Powerline Road.  Locating suitable borrow continues to be an issue—Corps is working with SAFCA/State to identify sources. Mailboxes along Garden Highway are being relocated to the waterside (residence side) of the levee.

  ii.      Garden Highway will remain closed between San Juan Rd and Powerline Rd through November 1, 2021 to accommodate the outfall construction at Plant 3. 

  iii.      Bids were received for the project to close the I-5 window crossing the Sacramento River and the low bid is below the Government Estimate; contract award is May 7; construction should commence by June 1 and be complete by December 2021.

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 is scheduled to begin May 17, 2021; the District is working with the Corps and the contractor to resolve some issues with PG&E on the electrical service design to minimize disruption to our pumping capacity during 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.      No change from April, the Corps continues working on 95% plans which are due in July.  The current schedule is to award the contract in July 2022 (construction 2023 and 2024); though the team is looking to expedite the schedule to be completed in 2023.

  ii.      SAFCA and State DWR continue working with the Corps to identify the necessary rights of way needed for construction with the goal of a ROW Take letter from the Corps by the end of May. 

Reach F

  i.      The Corps conducted a Value Engineering Study and shared the draft recommendations with the District/State/SAFCA with no critical errors identified.   RD 1000 continued coordination 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.      The 65% plans are due in June 2021 and proposed schedule is unchanged with Contract Award in 2022 and construction in 2023 and 2024.

Reach G

  i.      The Corps conducted a Value Engineering Study and shared the draft recommendations with the District/State/SAFCA with no critical errors identified.   RD 1000 continued coordination 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.      The 65% plans are due in June 2021 and proposed schedule is unchanged with Contract Award in 2022 and construction in 2023 and 2024.

Reach H

  i.      Construction activities commenced to complete construction on E. Levee Road, landside patrol road, retaining walls and remaining cut-off wall construction.  SAFCA continues acquisition of rights needed to complete patrol road and fence relocations.

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.      Design for the Reach I Contract 2 to construct a patrol / maintenance road and perform levee slope flattening being done by HDR Engineers with 95% Design due by the end of May.    The Corps continues is coordination with SAFCA and the State on necessary ROW acquisition.  Corps Public Affairs Office preparing flyer to be mailed to area residents in June.  Contract for tree removal to be awarded September 2021 with work done between November and February with levee construction to commence in April 2022 if the ROW can be acquired.

Other Projects

  i.      Plant 5 replacement—Design for Plant 5 replacement has been delayed to January 2022 due to lack of funding.

Highway 99 –Design for the closure of the Highway 99 at the Natomas Cross Canal being negotiated with HDR Engineers to commence in late May 2021.

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