Big grant will get Hamilton City levee study rolling
Chico Enterprise Record - 9/24/02
By Heather Hacking, staff writer

HAMILTON CITY - This Glenn County community made a huge stride toward solving the problem of its failing levee Monday when water big-wigs visited and brought along a pledge for $420,000 for environmental studies.

The money comes from the CalFed Bay Delta program, from money set aside from Proposition 204, and dignitaries from several water agencies came to town to help celebrate.

The levee failed in the floods in the 1990s, devastating the town and nearby farmland. Since then it's been a struggle to solve the problem.

Twice a year for the past five years, the residents of Hamilton City have held a levee festival where families cook food and people buy the food as donations.

They've raised $70,000 - not bad for a community of about 2,000, but just a drop in the bucket of the tens of millions needed for levee reinforcement.

"This is an immense boost for the local citizens in this area," said Jose Puente, general manager of the Hamilton City Community Services District. "We have tried for years to raise the revenue for the local cost share to have this study completed."

"With this assistance, we have a new beginning that we hope will lead to a long-term solution for the town of Hamilton City."

The CalFed funding will be supplemented with $25,000 from the Levee Festival funds, Supervisor Denny Bungarz said.

The remaining money will stay in an account for a possible "flood fight" this winter. The Corps of Engineers previously approved an emergency fix for the levee if flood waters reach a certain stage in winter. Hamilton City has arranged to have all the materials in place to reinforce the levee if it looks like it is going to fail.

The Nature Conservancy has been involved with the long-term solution for Hamilton City and purchased land north of Highway 32.

This is important because CalFed's current policy is to include habitat restoration in flood control projects.

"This project clearly demonstrates the collaboration and cooperation that reflects the spirit of the CalFed program ... government agencies working together with local interests to meet the most pressing local needs," said California Resources Secretary Mary Nichols. "We're pleased to be part of the solution for Hamilton City."

CalFed Director Patrick Wright, former state Sen. Jim Nielsen, Glenn County Supervisor Keith Hansen, and representatives from the Department of Water Resources, Hamilton City Community Services District, Corps of Engineers, State Reclamation Board and the Nature Conservancy were also present at Monday's event.

The study should begin in November and be completed in December 2003.

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