Natomas Flood Risk

The Natomas basin in Sacramento, Calif., is probably the most at-risk area in the nation for catastrophic flooding. Hear from local, state and Corps experts on why the risk is so high and what remains to be done to reduce it. http://www.spk.usace.army.mil/natomas

• Category

  News & Politics

[bruceburdick1]

This is a well done video, though I needed better identification of the speakers. Dan Tibbitts Project Manager of the US Army Corps of Engineers.

Rick Johnson, Executive Director of the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency

Kent Zenobia, Branch Manger of the California Department of Water Resources.

If I listened correctly, they say there could be "a wall of water 15 to 20 feet high" in the area of the Sacramento airport if the snow in the mountains melts in a couple of days!

[SacramentoDistrict]

Thanks Bruce! In future videos like this, we will be sure to identify the full name of the agencies. In regards to the "wall of water 15 to 20 feet high" - this refers to the worst-case-scenario where record-level flows resulting from a heavy rainy season and/or snowmelt could cause a breach in the Natomas levees. Potential flood depths could reach 15 to 20 feet in some areas.

[SacramentoDistrict]

The Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (SAFCA) has a flood depth map the shows potential flood depths for Natomas here: safca.org/Images/Maps/AR_SR_FL­OOD%20DEPTH%20ZONES.pdf

[John Peterson]

When we bought our first new house there in 2003 the home builder, city and army corps of engineers all said the levees were in great shape and rated for a 200+ year storm. They let the region expand and allow 15,000 people to move there. People got rich then pulled the truth out about the levees. Government corruption at its finest.