In a recent government meeting, key discussions centered around flood risk reduction and habitat restoration initiatives in the Sacramento region, particularly focusing on the Upper Yellow Bypass and Yolo Bypass areas.

The meeting highlighted the federal comprehensive study authorized under the Water Resources Development Act, which aims to evaluate regional flood risk reduction and habitat restoration opportunities. The Army Corps of Engineers has signed a cost-sharing agreement with the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency and the Central Valley Flood Protection Board to conduct this study over the next five years. The comprehensive study will assess the feasibility of increasing flood conveyance capacity and habitat restoration in the Upper Yellow Bypass.

Additionally, the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency presented a nonfederal sponsor plan in response to the federal study. This plan proposes significant alternatives, including extending the Fremont Weir to convert the upper Elkhorn Basin into a secondary floodplain and installing riparian habitat along a 10-mile stretch of the Tule Canal. These actions aim to enhance flood conveyance capacity and provide over two feet of flood stage reduction for communities in Sutter and Sacramento counties.

Another initiative discussed was the Yolo Bypass Cash Flow Master Plan, developed by the Department of Water Resources in collaboration with the Central Valley Flood Protection Board. This plan outlines approximately 22 projects designed to alter water flow through the flood control system. Although the objectives of this plan have shifted with the initiation of the comprehensive study, it still aims to inform federal interests in project implementation.

The meeting also touched on various projects of interest to Yolo County, including managed seasonal floodplain habitats to support juvenile salmon and levee setbacks to reduce flood risk to the city of Woodland. The public draft of the Yolo Bypass Master Plan, initially scheduled for release in September 2023, has been delayed and is now expected in fall 2024.

Lastly, the ongoing Bay Delta Plan update was mentioned, which seeks to address water quality and related issues in the Bay Delta watershed, covering a significant area of Northern California. This comprehensive approach reflects a commitment to integrating infrastructure planning with ecological restoration efforts in the region.