Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency updates levee projects, says FEMA funding is in a pipeline

Yuba City — At its Feb. 12 meeting, the Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency received a multi-project update from agency staff that detailed closeout work on the Feather River West Levee Project, design progress on the Sutter Bypass East Levee repair, coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Section 408 approvals, and a FEMA funding application currently “in the pipeline.”

Michael Bassett, who presented the program and project update, told directors the agency is finishing environmental-mitigation closeouts and right-of-way transfers for Feather River West Levee Project 1, and continuing state and federal documentation that records work already completed. “All of our work is done. It's just getting through, mostly the federal process to finalize those,” Bassett said.

Bassett said the Tudor flood-risk reduction work (referred to in the presentation as Feather River West Levee Project 2) is completing plan reviews and permit acquisitions and that the agency is working with the Army Corps to close the Section 408 regulatory process so construction can begin this summer if approvals arrive on time. On the Sutter Bypass East Levee repair — a roughly 5.2-mile priority reach — Bassett said designers are at about 65% completion and the plans have been forwarded to the Department of Water Resources (DWR) and an independent panel of experts for review.

“As the board is aware, we were selected by FEMA to receive those funds,” Bassett said of the agency’s FEMA grant application for the Sutter Bypass East Levee repair. He added, “We're in that funding pipeline. It hasn't been, fully authorized yet,” and said the agency is monitoring federal developments and coordinating with Calpine and DWR for potential additional funding. Bassett said the agency is targeting construction in 2027 if FEMA funding follows the current pipeline, though he also said the project could be ready to build in 2026 if funding timing allows.

Staff also reviewed other regional projects the agency is involved in: a Corps safety inspection and coordinated DWR support for a City of Oroville levee repair, design and permitting under way for projects in the Oroville Wildlife Area (Robinson's Bridal project, as presented), and a Thermolito After Bay boat ramp and campground project that staff said requires an Army Corps 408 approval and is 100% grant funded.

Seth Myers presented the agency’s monthly financial snapshot through December. Myers reported a working capital figure “about $22,500,000” and pending working capital near $29,800,000 once late remittances and January activity are posted. He said capital revenue through December was roughly $1.6–$1.7 million, with an estimated $8.5 million pending from a combination of state capital payments (about $4.4 million) and assessment revenue (about $4.1 million). Myers noted annual debt-service invoices are due in April and that the agency will present year-end audit results in March.

Bruce Ross, representing the office of Senator Megan Dally, introduced himself during public comment and said the senator’s office wants to support local flood-control work and is available as a resource. Directors asked a few clarifying questions during the presentation, including whether the Thermolito boat-ramp project falls within the agency’s flood-control mission; Bassett said it was brought to the agency as a DWR-funded, regionally beneficial, 100% grant-funded project the agency could administer.

Board members and staff said they will continue to press the Corps on Section 408 timelines; Bassett said he and a colleague had a meeting scheduled with Colonel Caldwell the day after the board meeting to emphasize the project timelines. The agency also reported it will continue FEMA coordination on remapping efforts for the Yuba City basin and broader Sutter County, a process staff said will take two to three years and include public outreach.

The board did not take a formal vote on project approvals at the Feb. 12 meeting; staff presented updates and identified actions that will return to the board as necessary for approvals or funding acceptance.