Contra Costa County Grand Jury
• 2024-2025
• Agency Response
Reclamation District No. 2024*
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Note: Missing finding numbers detected: F6, F7, F8, F9, F10, F18, F19, F20
Findings and Recommendations 10 findings
F4
The levees in the County's portion of the Delta have been built up or otherwise strengthened on a piecemeal basis over the century or more of their existence. Position: Agree in part. Much of the early reclamation of the Delta was organized and carried out on a broad scale. After some setbacks the Delta was deemed fully reclaimed by about 1925. Some repairs and maintenance are focused on particular segments of the levees. Upgrading to meet standards for urban requirements is usually system wide and not piecemealed. For typical agricultural levees rehabilitating to the USACE PL 84-99 and DWR 192-82 standards and higher District standards is piecemealed due to financial constraints and the differing physical conditions of the various levee segments.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
After identifying the necessary funding, reclamation districts should consider adding a "training module" for new and re-elected Board members to their required governance training (i.e. Brown Act and Ethics). This "module" or session should cover the district's levee regulations and protocols, the consequences of noncompliance with regulations and protocols, flood preparedness, and emergency response training - or at minimum a "back to basics" session with the consulting engineer to cover these concerns. Position: The recommendation is being implemented in in substance without a "module" as such. We understand that preparation of an emergency response video for general use is underway. For multiple owner Districts levee regulations are typically in place. Ethics training mechanisms are in place. Brown Act Requirements are a matter of oral instruction typically by counsel for the District.
F5
Because the levees remain vulnerable to natural hazards and human activities, they require constant vigilance - i.e., frequent inspection coupled with timely maintenance and prompt repairs. Position: Agree
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
Reclamation districts should formalize, or at a minimum document, all "Mutual Aid" agreements for future reference as reclamation district personnel change over time. Position: The recommendation has not yet been implemented, but will be implemented. The County is participating in a State grant program to develop Emergency Operations Plans for each reclamation district in the county. The EOPs will document mutual aid agreements. The EOPs are scheduled to be complete . *
F11
There is no formal or standardized educational or training resource available to the districts for levee inspection, maintenance, and repair, which can support new levee superintendents or managers while they acquire the experience to recognize problems early, learn how to appropriately respond, and learn how to balance environmental regulations with maintenance protocols. Position: Partially disagree. While such resources are somewhat limited, the California Department of Water Resources offers flood fighting instruction courses free to government agencies and non-profit organizations. A flood fight methods manual is available in both hardcopy and electronic formats, as well as other publications. A pre-season flood coordination meeting is also conducted each fall.
No recommendations for this finding
F12
Levee management requires recognizing seasonal timeframes and juggling multiple deadlines, including preparing for storm season and the "no-mowing" period, when local bird populations nest, as well as timely application for the subvention and/or special projects funding programs. Position: Agree
No recommendations for this finding
F13
Unpermitted encroachments can hinder visual inspection of the levee surface and create new structural weaknesses or potential conduits for seepage. Position: Agree
No recommendations for this finding
F14
Education about the potential danger of unpermitted encroachments can be a highly effective management tool for mitigating this type of hazard because increased understanding of the potential consequences of such encroachments can support longer-term adherence to levee regulations and protocols. Position: Agree
No recommendations for this finding
F15
Since early recognition of potential trouble spots and prompt repair work are critical to maintaining levee integrity, while resources for levee patrols are limited, the presence of an educated and aware residential population can supply additional eyes to provide the constant vigilance that is crucial to safeguarding the levees. Position: Agree, however in most cases levee patrol is not limited by resources.
No recommendations for this finding
F16
In addition to permitting procedures and intermittent newsletters, there are other opportunities to educate the public, and especially residents of reclamation districts, about the hazards that can damage or impair the levees. Position: Agree
No recommendations for this finding
F17
Explaining the hazards to levees by multiple means at appropriate times - i.e., just before the start of storm season in the fall - can help to keep awareness at a heightened and effective level. Position: Agree 1
No recommendations for this finding
F21
Some reclamation districts that are unable to maintain the staff, equipment, and material stockpiles needed for emergency major repairs, rely on informal mutual aid arrangements. Position: Agree Section 3 - Required Responses - Recommendations (2-5)
No recommendations for this finding
* This report's PDF did not contain easily extractable text and required Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for analysis. There may be minor errors in the extracted findings and recommendations due to OCR limitations with scanned documents.