SUBJECT: Errors of SAFCA’s 500-year Flood Event Map.
Dear Representive Ose.
I am sending you information on a critical error of the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency’s (SAFCA’s) 500-year flood event map.
Attachment 1 is a portion of FEMA’s 100-year flood event map, FIRM 060262-0065F July 6, 1998.
Attachment 2 is a portion of SAFCA’s 500-year flood event map, presented to public in December 2000.
Locations described below are for both maps and marked on both maps. All elevations are Mean Sea Level (MSL).
Location # 1 is on Elkhorn Boulevard, approximately 200 feet east of Tenth Street. At this location, on January 10/11, 1995, the floodwater had exceeded 49.6 feet MSL. It also was near this same elevation in 1986 and 1997.
Location # 2 is a speed bump at the entrance to Roy E. Hayer Park. The top elevation of the speed bump is above 47.1 feet. Floodwater had overtopped the speed bump on January 10/11, 1995. The parking lot for the park was under water in 1986 and 1997 also.
Location # 3 is the speed bumps on Tenth Street. Floodwater was about 0.5 feet above on January 10/11, 1995. They have also been under floodwater during 1986 and 1997.
Location # 4 is the pedestrian crossing on Tenth Street. The floodwater on January 10/11, 1995 had covered this at the center or crown of Tenth Street. Floodwater did not get to this location during 1986 and 1997. Elevation at the center or crown is about 47.5 feet.
Location # 5 is the south end of the foot race track at about 47.7 feet. This location had floodwater during January 10/11, 1995.
Location # 6 is the highest ball diamond at about 48.5 feet. The edge of the floodwater crossed the infield of this ball diamond on January 10/11, 1995.
Location # 7 is my home with a floor elevation of 49.5 feet. Tenth Street just east of my home drops rapidly as it heads south past my home. Because of this, I have not worried about my home flooding.
Location # 8 is on the east levee of Dry Creek Main Stream, about halfway between E and G Streets. The levee elevation at this location is about 43.3 feet. During the January 10/11, 1995 flood, the floodwater was about 0.6 feet above the top of the levee. This was about 3:00 PM on Jan 10. The crest of the floodwater was around 2:30 AM on Jan 11. The floodwater was moving slowly due to the heavy grass and no erosion occurred. The floodwater has overtopped this levee many times in the past but, not as deep as in 1995.
Location # 9 and #10 are the west ball diamonds with elevations of about 46.7 feet. The floodwater was about 2 feet deep at these locations during the January 10/11, 1995 flood. SAFCA’s 500-year map has these locations above the floodwater.
Summary: In the vicinity just north of my home, the floodwaters have met or exceeded FEMA’s 100-year FIRM 060262-0065F. During the floods of 1986 and 1997 the floodwater was slightly lower than 1995. Many other years in the past have had similar flood events, but records were set on all stream sensors on both the Dry Creek and Arcade Creek Watersheds on January 10, 1995. I have to agree with this, as the floodwater in the vicinity of my home was the highest that I have ever seen during the January 1995 floods.
Now, when I look at SAFCA’s 500-year map, I wonder who they are trying to convince that the floodwater will be lower than FEMA’s 100-year. When I look at another map which was published by SAFCA, I find the elevations of SAFCA’s 500-year map floodwater in the area just north of my home to be about 2 feet lower than FEMA’s 100 year.
It has been very difficult for me to believe a 500-year storm will cause less flooding than a 100-year storm.
I am requesting your assistance in preventing the Robla Creek South Levee Stage 2 Improvements (Permit Number 10633-A-BD) from going forward until the flood maps are corrected and mitigation is completed.
Respectfully,
Erwin E. Hayer
950 G Street
Rio Linda, CA 95673-4315
(916) 991-5940, E-mail: eeh625@hotmail.com
CC:
State Assembly Member Dave Cox, State Capitol, Room 2002, Sacramento,
CA 95814
State Senator Deborah Ortiz, State Capitol, Room 4032, Sacramento,
CA 95814
U. S. Representative John Doolittle, 1526 Longworth Building, Washington,
DC 20515
U. S. Senator Barbara Boxer, 112 Hart Building, Washington, DC 20510
U. S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, 331 Hart Building, Washington, DC 20510
The Reclamation Board, 1416 Ninth Street, Room 1601, Sacramento, CA
95814
The Rio Linda/Elverta News, 6757 Fifth Street, Rio Linda, CA 95673
