At some point it would be hoped that local public leadership realizes that the optimal long term goal to establish concerning flooding is that of reaching a 500 year level of flood protection—comparable to most other major river cities in the nation—rather than the 100 and 200 year level (New Orleans had a 250 year level when it flooded) now being reached for.
The only options able to attain this goal for Sacramento include the building of Auburn Dam, which we discussed in our 2006 report, "The American River Parkway: Protecting its Integrity & Providing Water for the River Running Through It: A Report on the Auburn Dam Policy Environment"
Flood agency urges new fee
Developers and remodelers face extra cost if plan is approved to help finance stronger levees.
By Matt Weiser - mweiser@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PST Tuesday, February 26, 2008
A plan to double the city's flood protection could add $5,000 to the price of an average new home in Sacramento.
The Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency proposes a development fee to pay for a host of projects to achieve greater flood protection throughout the city.
The fee was first discussed last year as a companion to a property tax increase adopted by voters for flood control projects. Details were unveiled at a meeting of the SAFCA board last week.
A fee on new development is seen as a way to ensure urban growth does not increase the area's flood risk. It would amount to about $2 per square foot for one-story, single-family homes, which in Sacramento average about 2,500 square feet.
Industrial projects would pay about the same rate, two-story multifamily housing would pay $1.20 per square foot, and commercial development would pay about $3.
New construction and remodeling that increases an existing building's footprint would be subject to the fees.
