Hamilton City tells corps its flooding fears
Chico Enterprise Record - 1/13/03
By Heather Hacking, staff writer

HAMILTON CITY - Glenn County residents worried about the failing J Levee, which protects Hamilton City from flooding by the Sacramento River, came out in force Thursday night to ask questions and voice concerns.

The meeting that drew about 80 was organized by the Army Corps of Engineers, which is taking the lead on plans for future levee protection.

Several plans are being considered and currently a one-year feasibility study is being conducted. The study cost is $840,000 and is being funded through the corps, CalFed, the state and county.

Mike Billiou, a Glenn County rancher, served as sort of the spokesman for the community, reading from a pre-prepared letter.

He criticized riprapping on the east side of the river as contributing to problems on the west bank.

He said the community is very unified that something needs to be done to save the homes and agricultural land. The community is willing to do whatever it takes, including raising Highway 32 or moving the town's sewage treatment facilities.

There are several proposals on the drawing board, but the community prefers the alternative that protects the current wastewater ponds.

One alternative is referred to as a "ring levee" and would basically protect the town. This alternative is cheaper, but doesn't give the same type of protections to ag lands as some of the more costly alternatives.

"We have a locally preferred alternative," Billou said. The alternative includes large areas for habitat restoration and doesn't require a lot of infrastructure.

He also urged the Corps of Engineers to use a flood model paid for by the Nature Conservancy.

The audience burst into applause after Billiou was done reading his statement.

One of the problems is that the corps won't approve funding unless the amount of benefits from the project exceed the cost. Many residents are frustrated because the problem with the levee has been going on for 25 years and funding is such a hurdle for a small community.

But the government now recognizes the value of wildlife habitat and will use that when figuring a benefit-to-cost ratio.

The Nature Conservancy is now involved, and the town's preferred alternative would include habitat restoration.

The Nature Conservancy purchased the Westerman farm, which is near the Hamilton City High School and Highway 32.

Eric Thaut, water resource planner for the corps, told the crowd it wouldn't really be productive to try to do anything about the levees on the east side of the river have been put in over the years. The best route to get something done for Hamilton City is to move ahead with protection based on current conditions.

D.J. Weber lives on Road 204. He spoke angrily and said the levees on the Butte County side of the river are forcing the river toward Hamilton City.

"The west side of the river is not the natural flood plain" he said.

"In the old days the river would flood clear up to Basque Norte Restaurant (in Chico)," he said.

Other comments included Tom Evans, of Family Water Alliance in Colusa. He said an ecosystem restoration that accompanies the project should include funding to maintain that habitat.

Others said they would like to see a Web site that had consolidated information about various aspects of the project.

Glenn County supervisor Denny Bungarz pointed out that the feasibility study is schedule to be done in a year, which is lightening speed for a big bureaucracy like the corps. This is the first time the project has been awarded such a large amount of money to move forward.

The J levee was built in 1904 before Shasta Dam. It failed twice in the '70s and extensive flood fighting has been needed five times since 1983.

Information is available online at www.compstudy.org

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