Existing law authorizes the formation of reclamation districts by owners of swamp and overflowed lands, salt-marsh, or tidelands, or other lands subject to flood or overflow and by owners of land already reclaimed, or in progress of reclamation, and not included in a reclamation district.

This bill would appropriate $1,175,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Water Resources for the purpose of constructing a new pump station to replace Pump Station No. 7 of Reclamation District No. 1614 Smith Tract. The bill would require the department to grant the $1,175,000 appropriated for the purpose of replacing the pump station to Reclamation District No. 1614 Smith Tract to construct a new pump station to replace Pump Station No. 7.

Date of Hearing: April 5, 2017

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 200

Author:(Eggman) – As Introduced Ver:January 23, 2017

Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No

SUMMARY:

This bill appropriates $1.175 million from the General Fund (GF) to the Department of Water Resources (DWR) and requires DWR to grant the funds to replace the Wisconsin Pump Station (Pump Station No. 7) of Reclamation District (RD) 1614 —Smith Tract.

FISCAL EFFECT:

One-time GF appropriation of $1.175 million to DWR to provide the local assistance grant.

COMMENTS:

1. Purpose. According to the author, the Wisconsin Pump Station is several decades old and in an advanced state of deterioration. This pump station no longer meets the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requirements. Replacing the pumping station is estimated to cost $2.35 million. Although residents have raised $1.175 million through assessment, RD 1614 has been unsuccessful in obtaining the remaining necessary grant funding. This bill will provide the funds necessary to replace the Pump Station.
2. Background. RD No. 1614 is located primarily within the City of Stockton, and is primarily residential properties. According to the San Joaquin Area Flood Control Agency (SJAFCA), because Smith Canal levees, maintained by RD 1614, do not meet minimum levels of protection, FEMA placed RD 1614 properties in a high-risk flood zone.

The Wisconsin Pump Station is responsible for pumping stormwater runoff from over 40% of the area of RD 1614, including stormwater runoff from Highway 5, into the Calaveras River. Without the replacement of the of this pump station, the area will remain in a flood plain subject to FEMA restrictions. The practical implication for residents living in a high-risk flood zone is being subject to expensive or mandatory flood insurance.

1. Grant Proposal Rejected. A 2013 application for Proposition 1E Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) grant funds for the Wisconsin Pump, with multi-benefit features, was rejected. The RD, through the Stockton East Water District, applied for $9.7 million for the Calaveras River Integrated Stormwater Management Project. The proposal included the improvements to the Wisconsin Pump, expanding an existing groundwater recharge basin from 65 to 280 acres, and installation of seven new, and four existing, water supply projection wells in the recharge area. The application scored 39 out of a possible 80. In particular, the rejection referenced that the “criterion is marginal and documentation is incomplete and insufficient.” However, the rejection did state that the construction details for the Wisconsin Pump Station were descriptive.

It is unclear why no further applications were made to subsequent rounds of Prop 1E or IRWM funding, even though the project may have been eligible for the 2016, $31 million IRWM grant round. The project proponents instead sought funding through various emergency funds in unrelated areas.

Analysis Prepared by: Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916) 319-2081

Date of Hearing: March 21, 2017

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON WATER, PARKS, AND WILDLIFE

Eduardo Garcia, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 200 (

Author:Eggman) – As Introduced Ver:January 23, 2017

SUBJECT: Reclamation District No. 1614: Pump Station No. 7

SUMMARY: Appropriates funds for a local flood control project at Smith Tract.

Specifically, this bill: Would appropriate $1.175 million ($1,175,000) from the General Fund to the Department of Water Resources for the purpose of constructing a new pump station to replace Pump Station No. 7 of Reclamation District 1614 (RD 1614)—Smith Tract. The bill would require the department to grant the $1.175 million appropriated for the purpose of replacing the pump station to Reclamation District No. 1614, to construct a new pump station to replace Pump Station No. 7.

EXISTING LAW: Existing law authorizes the formation of reclamation districts by owners of swamp and overflowed lands, salt-marsh, or tidelands, or other lands subject to flood or overflow, and by owners of land already reclaimed, or in progress of reclamation, and not included in a reclamation district. Existing law maintains that the liability for local flood control features in certain reclamation districts is a local responsibility.

FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown.

COMMENTS:

Background: Reclamation District (RD) No. 1614 is located primarily within the City of Stockton, and is primarily residential properties. According to the San Joaquin Area Flood Control Agency, Smith Canal levees (maintained by RD 1614) do not meet Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) minimum level of protection. FEMA placed RD 1614 properties in a high-risk flood zone.

In order to remove properties from the high-risk flood zone, the district proposed two projects be constructed. These are:

1. The San Joaquin Area Flood Control Agency (SJAFCA), in partnership with Reclamation Districts (RD) 1614 and 828, proposed to build, operate and maintain the Smith Canal Gate. SJAFCA received a state grant to pay 50 percent of project design and environmental work ($4.8 million total cost); and,
2. Separately, RD 1614 proposed to replace the failing Wisconsin Pump Station with a new station designed to meet current pumping requirements. RD 1614, in partnership with the Stockton East Water District, sought a state grant to pay for 50 percent of the project costs ($2.6 million total).

Prop 218 Assessments. In 2013, the district undertook a successful self-assessment vote under Proposition 218. The district raised over $3 million to provide 50 percent of project costs for both the Smith Canal Gate (a flood control feature), and Pump No. 7 (also called Wisconsin Pump Station). The SJAFCA successfully received funding for the 50 percent share of Smith Canal Gate. Separately, the RD also received $350,800 from Proposition 1E bond funds for delta levee maintenance and improvement.

Grant Proposal Rejected. A 2013 application for Proposition 1E Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) grant funds for Pump No. 7, with multi-benefit features, was rejected. The RD, through the Stockton East Water District, applied for funding $9.7 million for the Calaveras River Integrated Stormwater Management Project. The proposal included the improvements to Pump No. 7, expanding an existing groundwater recharge basin from 65 to 280 acres, and installation of seven new, and four existing, water supply projection wells in the recharge area. The application scored 39 out of a possible 80. In particular, the rejection referenced that the “criterion is marginal and documentation is incomplete and insufficient.” However, the rejection did state that the construction details for the Wisconsin Pump Station (Pump No. 7) were descriptive.

According to the project proponents, no further applications were made to subsequent rounds of Prop 1E or IRWM funding, even though the project may have been eligible for the 2016 $31 million IRWM grant round. The project proponents instead sought funding through various emergency funds in unrelated areas.

Regardless of the merits of the project, should this bill move on, it is incumbent upon the project proponents to clarify why the project is not eligible for other recent state bond grant programs related to flood and stormwater, or what further state funds have been applied for subsequent to the IRWM funding round.

Supporters argue that AB 200 would provide badly needed matching funds so the pump station can be replaced. The district serves a community of over 10,000 residents with equipment and supporting structure that no longer meets FEMA capacity standards. They argue that the district has had three successful property assessments for flood prevention, and that state matching funds would complete this important project.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

Reclamation District 1614

Opposition

None received.

Analysis Prepared by: Catherine Freeman / W., P., & W. /