Building for dry tomorrow

On Yuba County's Feather River levee, near Shanghai Bend, heavy machinery transports dirt to create room for a slurry wall.

Farther north, crews lay gravel on the land side of the levee for a seepage berm.

These projects and others are part of the final phase of levee improvements in Yuba County, culminating four years and $400 million of work.

A slurry wall and seepage berm are meant to prevent a levee from becoming too saturated with water, threatening the strength of the levee.

The final phase is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

"So many people left after the '86 and '97 floods because they felt unsafe," said Supervisor Mary Jane Griego. "Now we can say we're the safest community in California."

This final phase, which includes the strengthen-in-place procedures such as the slurry wall and seepage berms on the north and south end of the levee, and a 6-mile setback between Shanghai and Star bends, is funded through Proposition 1E money and a joint loan from the county and the Yuba County Water Agency.

The county received more than $138 million from the state through Proposition 1E, if it could come up with a $53 million local match for the $200 million project. That local match is made up of a $46.6 million joint loan and $6 million from Reclamation District 784.

Completion of the project is expected next month and construction on the setback levee is scheduled to begin next week, said Doug Handen, a consultant for the Three Rivers Levee Improvement Authority.

Once completed, the entire phase will protect the communities of West Linda, Olivehurst and Plumas Lake.

The last major hurdle the levee improvements face is obtaining federal permits to tie in the setback levee with the existing levee at Shanghai Bend and Star Bend. If obtained by September, work could be completed by December.

Paul Brunner, executive director of TRLIA, said because the permits are not yet approved, he's apprehensive to celebrate the completion of the project, but he is thrilled construction has gotten to this point.

"The entire project is doing one big push" to the end, he said. "We're moving forward as quickly as possible."

Crews from Nordic Industries Inc., were out in full force digging holes and laying gravel on Thursday. Nordic was awarded the contract last fall for this portion of levee improvements.

"Construction is the easy part," said Handen. "It's amazing how long permits can take."

Teichert Aggregates Inc., was awarded a contract for the setback levee May 20.

Griego, who is also the chair of the Three Rivers board, said four years ago flood control was her major issue.

"I didn't know how we were going to do it back then," she said.

Griego said the setback levee is what needed the most attention because it would relieve choke points in the river.

"Not only is it a benefit to us," she said, "but the entire region will benefit."

Know & Go

What: Setback levee groundbreaking ceremony

When: 10 a.m. Wednesday

Where: 1000 Anderson Avenue, at the intersection of Anderson Avenue and Feather River Boulevard.

RSVP: Call Three Rivers Levee Improvement Authority at 749-7841

Contact Appeal-Democrat reporter Andrea Koskey at 749-4709 or akoskey@appealdemocrat.com