Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure Maintenance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
District staff warn of levee erosion, tractor outages and dirt-bike damage ahead of spring growth
Summary
General Manager Blake told the board that two of three tractors used for ditch work are sidelined for hydraulic repairs, a roughly 75-foot erosion site on the Sacramento River levee was reported to federal and state agencies, and dirt bikes/ATVs are repeatedly damaging levee surfaces.
General Manager Blake told the Reclamation District 900 board on March 18 that spring grass growth and equipment failures are creating maintenance challenges for the district and could affect inspection and ditch-clearing work.
"Our total revenue is 4.1 million. Our total expenditure is just under 1.2 million. So we right now we're in the positive of 2.9. So about 47% spent of the budget for this year," Blake said as part of his operational update before turning to field conditions. He reported that two of three John Deere tractors that carry hydraulic arms used for ditch work are currently in the shop for repairs and "it's going to be in the shop for a little while," leaving staff to rely on other mowing equipment for levee mowing but limiting ditch clearing capacity.
Blake said the district has received multiple complaints about dirt bikes and ATVs using levee ramps and riding across levees, which damages slopes and leaves tracks that staff must rework. "We've got dirt bikes running all over the leveies. Uh lots of complaints from land owners, homeowners... working with the city PD, code enforcement, trying to keep them off the leveies," he said. District crews have disk-plowed some tracks and spoken with landowners to deter access; Blake said police had not yet reported arrests tied to the incidents.
The general manager also described an erosion site on the Sacramento River levee across from the Rivas condominium complex. He estimated the damaged area could be about 75 feet wide and said the district notified the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the California Department of Water Resources; repairs may require permitting and will proceed once water levels permit access. Blake noted a separate sloughing problem near I-80 where riprap has shifted, prompting geotechnical review.
On projects and procurement, Blake said the Blacker Canal pre-bid walk was held March 12 and sealed bids are due March 26; staff plans to present the low responsive bid to the board for award. He also reported the Yolo Bypass East Levee North pump station is nearly complete, with power and generator testing finished and upcoming training for staff on pumps and controls; the Army Corps is expected to turn that facility over to the district after final checks.
Trustees asked clarifying questions about which mowing machines remain operational, whether rental equipment could substitute (Blake said the specialized tractors are not rentable and parts timelines are uncertain), the age of the machines (one more than 10 years old; another about seven), and whether seismic activity could cause levee sloughing (Blake said earthquakes can create sloughing and levees are designed for post-event repair).
