[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 169 (Monday, November 7, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7156-S7157]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself and Mrs. Boxer):
  S. 1810. A bill to authorize improvements to flood damage reduction 
facilities adjacent to the American and Sacramento Rivers near 
Sacramento, California, and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Natomas 
Basin Flood Protection Improvements Act of 2011.
  This legislation will authorize the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to 
improve the flood control infrastructure in the Sacramento area, 
safeguarding many thousands of homes and businesses.
  There is a pressing need to improve levees in Sacramento, a city that 
is perpetually cited as one of our Nation's most at-risk for severe 
flooding.
  But even in this high-risk city, there are priority areas. Natomas, 
which lies between the American and Sacramento rivers, is the top 
priority for Sacramento flood control.
  More than 100,000 people in the Natomas flood plain are at high or 
moderate risk of flooding.
  The vast majority of these homes would be inundated with over 10 feet 
of water should a levee break.
  In some places, inundation levels would exceed 20 feet.
  The risk is clear. Estimates by the Army Corps of Engineers put the 
risk of levee failure at 1 in 3. Damages from a single flood could top 
$7 billion.
  Recognizing the need to upgrade the levees in Natomas, the Corps of 
Engineers completed a Chief's Report in December 2010 that identified 
$1.1 billion in essential levee improvements.
  According to the report, the principal levee modifications include 
the widening of 41.9 miles of existing levees; installation of about 
34.8 miles of soil bentonite cutoff wall; installation of 8.3 miles of 
seepage berms, and bridge remediation on State Route 99.
  In addition, the report recommends the creation of 75 acres of canal 
habitat, 200 acres of Marsh habitat, and 60 acres of woodland habitat 
to ensure the project complies with the Endangered Species Act.
  The cost of these improvements will be significant, but the burden 
will be shared. The Chief's Report recommends that the costs of the 
improvements be split between the federal government and state and 
local stakeholders.
  The report recommends roughly a 65 percent federal share and a 35 
percent state and local share.
  The Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency, SAFCA, and the California 
Department of Water Resources have taken the cost-share agreement to 
heart and are outpacing the Corps of Engineers. They have begun their 
work on the project even before the federal work has been authorized.
  SAFCA and California have already invested more than $320 million in 
the Natomas Basin project and repaired about 18 miles of the basin's 42 
miles of levees. By the end of 2012, this amount will increase to $370 
million.
  I want to take a moment to recognize SAFCA and the people of 
Sacramento for their efforts. They have put their money where their 
mouth is. This project would not be possible without the significant 
leadership and resources they have already committed.
  County voters twice approved special tax assessments, in 2007 and 
2011, to raise local funds needed to improve the levee system. These 
assessments will provide more than $80 million of local funds for flood 
control projects. In addition, local interests have provided an 
additional $40 million in advance of federal participation for which 
credit will be sought, that is a total commitment thus far of $120 
million
  The most recent assessment passed overwhelmingly, 84.5 percent of 
voters supported the measure.
  Sacramento residents and homeowners understand that this levee 
improvement project is critical to the safety and viability of their 
community. Even during the worst economic downturns in a generation, 
voters stood together, passed the measure and sent a definitive message 
to Congress.
  I also want to recognize Representative Doris Matsui, author of 
companion legislation in the House and a champion on this issue. I have 
had the pleasure of working with my good friend from Sacramento on 
flood control for nearly a decade, and her commitment and advocacy is 
unparalleled.
  I want to reinforce the importance of this legislation. If Sacramento 
levees fail, the results will be devastating Sacramento International 
Airport, which serves 4.4 million passengers per year and is the 
primary air-cargo hub for the region, will be largely underwater.
  Interstate 5, Interstate 80 and State Route 99 will be closed or 
restricted. These roads serve as freight arteries and facilitate the 
passage of more than 2,500 trucks per day.
  Access to the Port of West Sacramento, the city's primary seaport, 
will be jeopardized.
  Flooding in Sacramento is not a question of if, but when.
  Recordbreaking storms hit the region in 1951, 1956, 1964, 1986 and 
1997.

[[Page S7157]]

  During the 1997 storm, levee failures in the nearby cities of 
Olivehurst, Arboga, Wilton, Manteca and Modesto caused mass evacuations 
and millions of dollars in damages.
  An even more devastating flood occurred in 1861 when the American 
River Levee failed. California's newly elected Governor, Leland 
Stanford, was forced to take a row-boat to his inauguration and the 
state capital was temporarily moved to San Francisco.
  In January of this year, the U.S. Geological Survey released a study 
entitled ``ARkStorm'' that examined the impacts of an atmospheric river 
storm event in California. This storm scenario produced rainfall levels 
seen once every 500 to 1,000 years.
  In this model, the Central Valley would experience 300 miles of 
flooding, 20 or more miles wide. Evacuations could involve 1.5 million 
residents, with hundreds of landslides damaging roads, highways, and 
homes.
  There is a statistical possibility that the cataclysmic scenario run 
by the U.S.G.S. will occur in our lifetime. The possibility is small, 
but it could happen.
  So we must be prepared if it does.
  The Natomas Basin Flood Protection Improvements Act of 2011 is one 
small step toward achieving that.
  This legislation addresses the needs of one of the highest-risk 
communities in our Nation.
  While this legislation isn't cheap, the cost-share relieves a sizable 
share of the Federal responsibility.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1810

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Natomas Basin Flood 
     Protection Improvements Act of 2011''.

     SEC. 2. PROJECT MODIFICATION, AMERICAN AND SACRAMENTO RIVERS, 
                   CALIFORNIA.

       (a) In General.--The project for flood damage reduction, 
     American and Sacramento Rivers, California, authorized by 
     section 101(a)(1) of the Water Resources Development Act of 
     1996 (Public Law 104-303; 110 Stat. 3662; 113 Stat. 319; 117 
     Stat. 1839; 121 Stat. 1947), is modified to authorize the 
     Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, 
     to construct improvements to flood damage reduction 
     facilities adjacent to the American and Sacramento Rivers in 
     the vicinity of Sacramento, California, substantially in 
     accordance with the report of the Chief of Engineers entitled 
     ``American River Watershed (Common Features) Project, Natomas 
     Basin, Sacramento and Sutter Counties, California'', and 
     dated December 30, 2010, at an estimated total cost of 
     $1,389,500,000, with an estimated Federal cost of 
     $921,200,000 and an estimated non-Federal cost of 
     $468,300,000.
       (b) Credit for Non-Federal Work.--
       (1) In general.--The non-Federal interest shall receive 
     credit for expenses and in-kind contributions incurred by the 
     non-Federal interest in carrying out a project described in 
     subsection (a) for planning, design, and construction of the 
     project and acquisition of any land, easement, right-of-way, 
     relocation, and dredged material disposal area for the 
     project.
       (2) Application of credit.--The credit under paragraph (1) 
     shall be applied toward the non-Federal share of--
       (A) the project; or
       (B) any other project for which the non-Federal interest 
     has entered into a cost-sharing agreement with the Secretary.
       (3) Limitation on statutory construction.--Nothing in this 
     subsection limits the ability of the non-Federal interest to 
     pursue credit or reimbursement for work performed by the non-
     Federal interest in connection with the project under any 
     other law (including regulations), authority, or procedure, 
     including section 104 of the Water Resources Development Act 
     of 1986 (33 U.S.C. 2214).
                                 ______