Flood Control

The city of Sacramento faces a constant threat of flooding. It is critical that there is a continued investment in efforts to minimize Sacramento's risk of flooding. Ensuring Sacramento has the necessary level of flood protection is one of my highest priorities. Every day, I am working with Sacramento's flood control partners - the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency, CA Department of Water Resources, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation - to move the city's flood protection work forward and to reach our goal of 200-year flood protection.

Flood protection efforts, like managing our rivers, is complex and takes many different partners working together to achieve our goals. Sacramento residents play a big part in that, and it is critical that residents have the flood insurance they need to protect their homes and businesses from potential damage. That is why I continue to advocate on behalf of Sacramento families and businesses to achieve higher levels of flood protection for the long-term that will lower their insurance costs, and to provide short-term relief through extensions of the preferred rate policies.

Protecting Sacramentans from the Risk of Flooding
Folsom Dam Spillway -- Joint Federal Project

 
Congresswoman Matsui visits the Folsom Dam Joint Federal Project,
for which she helped secure funding

On January 11, 2008 ground was broken on the Folsom Dam Joint Federal Project (JFP).· This project includes the construction of a new auxiliary spillway, adjacent to the current dam.· When completed, much of Sacramento will have over 200-year flood protection. The JFP will also address critical needed dam safety work.· In conjunction with my congressional colleagues, I worked to see that the Folsom Dam JFP was authorized in the Water Resources and Development Act of 2007.· The JFP will be completed in 2015 at a total cost of $1.3 billion.  In Fiscal Year 2013, I also secured an additional $98.8 million for this critical project.

Work is moving along on the Folsom Dam Joint Federal Project

Levee Improvements

After many years of levee improvements most of Sacramento has 100 year flood protection, but much work is still to be done and I am working hard to make sure ongoing levee work in Natomas, South Sacramento, and other areas is completed in the fastest time possible. For Fiscal Year 2013, I secured over $14 million in federal funds that will be designated to improve the levees on the Sacramento and American Rivers.  Of that, the South Sacramento Streams will receive $700,000, and the American River Watershed Common Features Project will receive $13.5 million to make improvements.

Watershed Approach

The trail of destruction left by Hurricane Katrina demonstrated the importance of investing in flood protection. This includes examining, maintaining and strengthening our levee and dam system. It also means looking beyond Sacramento's levee system to take a wider, watershed approach to managing high water events and finding ways to reduce the risk of flooding to begin with. Hurricane Katrina also told us that tougher standards are needed to ensure our levees are strong enough to meet the toughest storms.

With the major floods of 1986 and 1997, Sacramento experienced firsthand two close calls that remind us that disaster is all too close. The cost to minimize the risk of flooding is high, but the cost of doing nothing is much higher. I am committed to securing federal funds each year to improve the levees that protect Sacramento.

Advocating for Flood Insurance Sacramentans can Afford

With thousands of residents living behind levees it is important for all of those that live in the flood plain to have flood insurance.  I have always fought to keep flood insurance rates low for my constituents, and I continue to work with my colleagues here in Congress to ensure we keep them low going forward.  During debate on the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act, I fought for, and achieved, a gradual phase in of the flood insurance rates.  My amendment limits most cost increases to no more than 20% a year. 

While I am pleased that I was able to secure this gradual phase in of the rate increase for Natomas residents and save them money, I know that any increase can be a hardship to hard working families.  I  understand the financial pain that this can cause families, I have been working with my colleagues in Congress to delay the rate increases.  I coauthored an amendment that would have delayed the rate increases for one year.  That amendment passed the Hosue in the Department of Homeland Security's appropriations bill, but has not yet made it into law.  I also signed a letter with over 50 of my colleagues to House Leadership asking for a delay in the rate increases.

I also joined nearly 60 of my colleagues in introducing legislation to fix the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and ensure changes are implemented affordably.  Among its provisions this legislation would delay implementation of the rate increases for four years.