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SacBee editorial: Editorial: Plain sense vital in the Natomas floodplain

Posted by: Maven on March 13, 2010 at 7:38 am

From the Sacramento Bee, this editorial:

“It hasn’t flooded since 1911. So, in some quarters, a certain complacency has set in about the 53,000-acre Natomas Basin.

The reality, however, is that the 43 miles of levees currently only meet a 30-year flood protection standard, the lowest level of flood protection for any major metropolitan area in the United States. A flood could put the area under 20 feet of water.

The bottom line is that Natomas levees don’t meet minimum 100-year federal flood protection standards. So new home construction has been banned since Dec. 8, 2008 (unless homes are elevated 21 feet). That’s a de facto building moratorium until levee upgrades are done – which is not expected until summer 2012.

During this levee upgrade period, potential homebuyers depend on developers, city officials and lenders to follow the rules and protect them from flood hazards. … “

Continue reading this editorial by clicking here.

March 13, 2010 · Filed Under Sacramento

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