Flood Home

Priority One:  Improving Levees and Public Safety

Link to the Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement

Surrounded by levees on all sides, the city of West Sacramento has a long history living with flood risk.  The city, the West Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (WSAFCA), and the California Department of Water Resources have undertaken an extensive effort to further analyze the condition of the levees that protect the city's 47,000 residents.  Using new evaluation techniques developed after flood events along the gulf coast, the city has identified problems, with seepage, stability, and erosion.  These are common forms of levee deficiencies throughout the Central Valley and may threaten public safety if left unchecked.

The city and WSAFCA are undertaking an effort to improve all of its levees to current standards.  The federal government has a major interest in the delivery of appropriate flood protection to West Sacramento.  The project will:

  • Reduce the risk of a Katrina-like disaster to this community, protecting the safety of 47,000 residents and over $3 billion in property value.
  • Preserve the previous federal investment by addressing deficiencies that remain in the still-active congressionally-authorized West Sacramento Project.
  • Protect facilities of regional and national significance, including the Union Pacific main railroad line, US-50, I-80, the regional USPS mail processing center, the regional Department of Water Resources flood fight facility, the California Highway Patrol Academy (a key facility in state emergencies), and the Port of West Sacramento.

Based on the newest federal standards, certain important deficiences have been found in the federal levee system that protects the city.  The total estimated cost for needed improvements is over $460 million.  The city and WSAFCA have moved proactively to address this challenge, with city residents recently voting to assess themselves for up to $40 million of the needed funds.  The balance is expected to come from private, state and federal sources.