Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Program Projects topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Agency updates multiple flood projects: Sutter Bypass design, Oroville levy inspection, Robinson's Riffle and Thermolito Afterbay progress
Summary
At the March 12 meeting agency staff reported 65% design on the 5.2-mile Sutter Bypass East Levee project, coordination with FEMA on remapping, a scheduled Army Corps one-time levee inspection for the Oroville city levee, and progress on the Oroville Wildlife Area Robinson's Riffle and Thermolito Afterbay campground projects.
Agency staff briefed the board on several program and project updates at the March 12, 2025, meeting.
Sutter Bypass East Levee: The agency reported the 5.2-mile Sutter Bypass East Levee project is at 65% design. Plans are under review by the state and an independent panel of experts. Staff said they will begin the Central Valley Flood Protection Board encroachment-permit process once required environmental documents are complete and that doing so will initiate the Corps 408 review. Staff noted the agency is monitoring a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) process that could affect federal grant eligibility; the project team estimates nearly $50 million in construction funding associated with the project.
Oroville city levee: Staff said the Army Corps accepted the City of Oroville levee for a one-time levee inspection under the Corps' National Levee Safety Program. The Corps will compile historical documents and perform a two-day field inspection and in-office meeting targeted for May; agency staff are coordinating with city and Department of Water Resources (DWR) staff. Staff also described outreach to state legislative offices: they said a funding request will be submitted through the state budget via Senator Megan Dahle's office (referred to in meeting as "Senator Dahle's office") to support investigations for the Oroville levee repair.
Federal crediting and project partnership amendments: Staff said the Corps is reviewing in-kind credit packages and draft project-partnership agreement amendments that would allow credit transfer between related projects; staff said a Central Valley Flood Protection Board action could occur in May or June but that the schedule has slipped as the Corps has more questions.
Oroville Wildlife Area Robinson's Riffle and Thermolito Afterbay: Staff said a $1,100,000 DWR planning grant for Robinson's Riffle is essentially complete and resulted in the first project advancing to design at about 30% completion. That design work is funded through a $2,100,000 California Department of Fish and Wildlife grant. Separately, the Thermolito Afterbay boat ramp and campground project is under review by the state architect, the state fire marshal and the state department of engineering; staff said the design review and permit processes make construction unlikely this year and are targeting next year for construction. Staff also told the board that assessment-district funds generally cannot be used to pay for the campground and boat ramp projects, though a limited amount of assessment funds were available for projects with flood-stage reduction benefits, such as Robinson's Riffle.
FEMA remapping and Feather River side-channel: Staff said FEMA remapping of Sutter County is ongoing and that Butte County's remapping took about three years to complete. The agency is tracking federal staffing and process changes that could affect remapping timelines. The Feather River side-channel project was described as being in early information-gathering and design-kickoff stages; staff said they are providing geotechnical information to the project team.
Other notes: Staff said RFMP Round 4 closeout is in process and Round 5 will begin within weeks. Staff will present to the Sutter County Museum at the end of March on flood history and agency work. The agency said it continues to monitor wet-season storms related to La NiF1a and will share updates as conditions change.
