Preparation cost of this report was $15,000, which was funded by FC District Funds. Implementation of the recommended action plans and assessment studies over the next eight years will cost approximately $5,800,000 to be funded by FC District and Flood Control Zone Funds, with ongoing efforts to offset expenses with grant funds.
On November 5, 2013, the FC District presented to the Board its first annual report on flood protection infrastructure in order to understand its history, condition, and future needs. Annually in February, starting in 2014, we presented the Board with the FC District’s Annual Report for the previous year. The 2017 Annual Report is provided to update the Board on the FC District’s accomplishments in 2017 as well as future challenges and next steps.
In summary, our community outreach events were successful, our capital programs made progress, and our studies of aging infrastructure and unsustainable service levels continued to highlight some major concerns, primarily regarding lack of funding.
Highlights of 2017 include:
· FC District staff visited Representatives at the State Capitol, talking about the need for stormwater funding.
· The Lower Walnut Creek Restoration Project wrapped up its community-based planning process and received over $2M in new grant funding.
· Students at Walnut Creek Intermediate School held a “Stay Out, Stay Alive” assembly attended by both the County Fire District’s Swift Water Rescue Team and FC District staff.
· The FC District completed a 5th annual “Giving the Natives a Chance” community planting day, with over 150 volunteers planting about 7,000 native grass plugs.
· The Wildcat/San Pablo Creeks levee remediation project was constructed, reducing flood risk in the North Richmond area. The State Department of Water Resources provided $650,000 in additional grant funds on top of their original $1.5M grant.
· The RainMap rainfall tracking and forecasting online tool received a California State Association of Counties Challenge Merit Award. The RainMap is available at www.cccounty.us/RainMap.
· The FC District installed 11 new stream gauges funded by a $205,000 Department of Water Resources Flood Emergency Response Grant.
· The Three Creeks Project is at the 90% design stage and expected to begin construction next year.
· Facility Condition Assessments for all FC District infrastructure are halfway complete through the ten-year program.
We continue working with the California State Association of Counties and the County Engineers Association of California after the passage of SB231, which could allow agencies to charge property owners for stormwater services, similar to the exemption that water and wastewater utility districts have under Proposition 218 voter requirements. We, like other agencies, are cautiously moving forward on determining how SB231 will assist in creating sustainable funding sources to meet the FC District’s needs.
The FC District will continue implementation of the action plans outlined in the Annual Report. The key action for the next few years will be to focus on developing sustainable funding for regional flood protection and community drainage. For the full report and past reports, visit www.cccounty.us/5815/Annual-Reports.
Staff recommends that the Board accept the 2017 Annual Report from the FC District, direct the Chief Engineer to continue with the action plans recommended in the Report, with a follow-up report to this Board annually, and refer the effort to develop sustainable funding for regional flood protection and community drainage to the Transportation, Water and Infrastructure Committee.
If the Board does not accept this report, the County’s flood protection and community drainage infrastructure issues will not be adequately addressed, which will lead to lower levels of flood protection for our communities in the future.