It is difficult to see how flood protection can be obtained, in any meaningful way, without stopping the onrush of water which causes floods at its primary source in the rivers with dams.
But, it you can’t get dams built, shifting liability and stopping development in areas likely to flood is an option, though very poor public policy for community’s dependent on continued growth.
Governor signs six bills to provide flood safety
By Kevin Yamamura - Bee Capitol Bureau
Published 12:00 am PDT Thursday, October 11, 2007
Sealing a compromise between environmentalists and builders, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation Wednesday to phase in growth restrictions in flood-prone areas throughout the Central Valley.
The Republican governor approved six bills designed to force cities and counties to consider flood risks in the planning process without imposing a strict moratorium, a previous sticking point for builders.
Under Senate Bill 5 by Sen. Mike Machado, D-Linden, the state must establish a Central Valley protection plan by 2012 and provide flood maps to cities and counties next year. By 2015, local governments cannot approve new developments unless the land under review has 200-year flood protection or efforts are in place to provide that level of defense.
Local Democratic lawmakers for the past three years sought to impede new construction on flood-prone land, particularly in the Central Valley where flood fears spiked after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans in 2005. Previous bills died in the Legislature under opposition from business groups.
But environmentalists, builders, Democrats and the governor reached a late-session accord last month that imposes new flood restrictions in stages. The governor held Wednesday's bill-signing ceremony at Shorebird Park in Natomas, wedged between tract homes and a levee along the Sacramento River.
"Floodplain development is another one of those issues that has not gotten the attention it deserves," Schwarzenegger said. "For years nothing got done because growth and safety concerns were always at odds. Now we have the support of the builders and local governments and also the water agencies in the state."
