Supervisors move to ratify emergency proclamation after Sherman Island levee erosion

The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 23 moved to ratify a Dec. 19 proclamation of local emergency for Reclamation District 341 after storm-driven erosion damaged a levee on Sherman Island, county emergency officials said.

County Chief of Emergency Services Mary Jo Flynn Nevins told the board that Sherman Island experienced significant storm impacts on Dec. 14 and that an inspection on Dec. 19, accompanied by engineers from Reclamation District 341 and the state Department of Water Resources, led to the proclamation and a decision to activate the county’s emergency operations center.

“I'm Mary Jo Flynn Nevins, your Chief of Emergency Services. I'm here to request your ratification of the December 19, 2024 Proclamation of Emergency for significant and uncontrolled erosion on Sherman Island and the Delta,” Flynn Nevins said. She said district engineers have worked over the weekend to strengthen critical areas along the levee and that repairs are ongoing.

Flynn Nevins said county emergency staff are coordinating with Reclamation District 341 and multiple partner agencies to monitor conditions and prepare for possible evacuations. She said the county is sharing custom local forecasts from the National Weather Service Sacramento office and using partner resources to identify and stage supplies.

To assist real-time monitoring of wave action that threatens the levee, Flynn Nevins described a new use of PG&E camera assets. “This is the first utilization of these camera systems that I'm aware of for this levee issue and levee monitoring,” she said, adding that Reclamation District engineers can view footage in real time to watch wave action along the levee.

Flynn Nevins also told residents and workers on the island to enroll in the county alert system: “We ask that residents, visitors, and those working on the island register for sacramento-alert.org or text the word LEVY to 77295.”

While engineers were described as actively making repairs, Flynn Nevins cautioned that weather posed continuing risk: she said a stronger storm was expected on Dec. 24 and another atmospheric river later in the week, and the county remains prepared to notify residents should conditions worsen.

After the presentation the board moved, with Supervisor Hume identified as mover and Supervisor Frost as seconder, to ratify the proclamation of emergency for Reclamation District 341. The meeting transcript provided did not include a clear roll-call tally or a definitive vote outcome in the record available.

Chair Kennedy thanked Flynn Nevins and county staff for their work coordinating the response. Flynn Nevins said the county will continue to identify resource needs with the reclamation district and to route logistics requests as required.

The county listed partner agencies involved in the response as Sacramento Office of Emergency Services, Reclamation District 341, PG&E, Sacramento Metro Fire, the American Red Cross, River Delta School District, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, Solano County Emergency Services, Contra Costa County Emergency Services and the National Weather Service Sacramento office.

Next steps described by staff included continuing levee repairs, staging supplies for rapid response, custom weather monitoring for Sherman Island, and outreach to residents through the county alert system.