Levee work gets permit

The green light to complete the Feather River setback levee in south Yuba County — and stay ahead of Federal Emergency Management Agency remapping — was given this week after the remaining federal permits were granted.

Paul Brunner, executive director of the Three Rivers Levee Improvement Authority, said these permits will allow crews to prepare the areas by moving native plant species where the new levee will "tie-in" to the old levee in the spring.

"It's a major step," Brunner said.

The nearly $200 million project is the last of four phases Yuba County has taken on in flood control. The county partnered with the Yuba County Water Agency to fund this remaining part that will create six miles of new levee along the Feather River to protect Olivehurst, Arboga and Plumas Lake.

The new levee is being constructed where the old levee broke in 1997, causing $300 million in damage and killing three people.

As long as the weather cooperates, construction continues on the new levee, Brunner said. The new levee is roughly 25 feet high at the south end. The remaining five miles are at different heights, depending on the stage of work.

Construction work on the tie-ins won't begin until after flood season ends, which is around April 15, because work involves an existing levee.

Mary Jane Griego Yuba County supervisor and chair of TRLIA, said obtaining these permits is a huge milestone.

"This is the bump we needed to get over to see the light at the end of the tunnel," she said.

Griego said these permits will help the county in the race for completion before FEMA releases its updated flood maps.

"It will save our taxpayers huge premiums," in flood insurance, Griego said.

Brunner expects the levee to be completed in July. FEMA expects to release the final flood plain maps for Yuba County in October.

"Now all we have to do is stay on schedule," Brunner said.