San Jacinto River Levee, Stage 4 Project ID: 3145

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1 Lead Agency: Agency: Project Director: Address: Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District Stuart McKibbin 1995 Market Street Riverside Phone: Cell Phone: General Project Information: Name: Description: San Jacinto River Levee, Stage 4 & River Corridor Expansion Project This project is a joint venture with the City of San Jacinto. The project is to construct the ultimate levee system between the existing Corps of Engineers levee 9,500 feet upstream of State Street, and a point about 8,200 feet downstream of Sanderson Avenue, a distance of about 5 miles. The primary construction element is a setback levee along the 5-mile reach that would widen the existing river corridor from a mere 300 feet to over 1200 feet. The levee would remove 1995 acres and 351 existing structures from the San Jacinto River floodplain. Besides the new southern setback levee the construction phase of the Project includes a floodwall and grade control structure over Metropolitan s aqueduct pipelines, enhancements to the existing northern levee including a new floodwall along Golden Era s frontage, excavation under the State Street Bridge, and removal of portions of the existing southern levee. Overall Project footprint = 585 acres, Construction footprint = 400 acres. The project would convert 231 acres of farmland to natural uses. Moreover, by exposing the area between the levees to natural riverine processes the project could eventually result in the establishment of about 300 acres of additional active riverine/riparian habitat for common and sensitive species. Moreover, the expanded riverine corridor would allow for reintroduction of the endangered San Bernardino Kangaroo Rat, and connect the State s San Jacinto Wildlife Preserve and Mystic Lake with other biologically sensitive areas to the east. The project would protect a culturally significant Soboba Tribe cottonwood grove. The projects EIR is set to go to the San Jacinto CIty Council on June 2, MSHCP compliance has been received and mitigation determined. Corps permits are in process. 1 of 7

2 Goals/Objectives: Need: To provide all weather access into and out of the San Jacinto Valley by removing Sanderson Avenue, Ramona Expressway, the Sanderson Avenue and Ramona Expressway intersection, and State Street, from the San Jacinto River 100-year floodplain; Reduce the amount of dairy and agricultural lands affected by flooding that may limit day to day operations of the facilities and cause pollutants from these agricultural uses to affect downstream impaired waterbodies like Lake Elsinore and Canyon Lake during large storm events; Increase hydraulic capacity to protect the existing State Street and Sanderson Avenue Bridges from damage from high flows and increase the flow capacity under the existing State Street Bridge to accommodate a 100-year event; Provide 100-year flood protection from the San Jacinto River between the existing USACE Levee (upstream) to a point west of Sanderson Avenue (downstream) thereby removing 1995 acres from the FEMA 100-year floodplain (OWOW s goal is to remove just 700 acres in the entire SAR watershed); and Provide protection for MWD s brittle underground aqueduct pipelines that cross the San Jacinto River. The existing San Jacinto River channel and levees do not provide 100-year flood protection in the project reach. Recurring breaches of the existing levees have resulted in damage to agricultural lands and resort facilities, flooded roads, displaced local residents, and inundated large areas adjacent to the river. The unimproved levees downstream of State Street and Sanderson Avenue could fail resulting in inundation of farmland and dairies with floodwater. Floodwaters to come into contact with dairy wastes can contaminate local surface waters as well as impaired water bodies as far away as Canyon Lake and Lake Elsinore. Without the project the City of San Jacinto General Plan cannot be fully implemented. Without the project this reach of the River would remain a constrained linkage between sensitive biological areas. Meets statutory eligibility gates of 2015 IRWM Grant Funding: IRWM Goals: 2 of 7

3 IRWM Type OWOW 2015 Funding PRESERVATION AND ENHANCEMENT OF THE HYROLOGY TO BENEFIT HUMAN AND NATURAL COMMUNITIES - Create a wider river corridor to restore the natural hydrology, as farming has confined the river to a narrow channel. A wider riverine corridor would foster survival of species adapted to living in floodplains. Recover 1995 ac. of floodplain. ENHANCES ECOSYSTEM SERVICES FOR OPEN SPACE AND HABITAT Create an additional 300 ac. of habitat for endangered SBKR and LAPM; Manage nearby refuge habitat for the mammals; Restore a substantial part of the wildlife corridor between Mystic Lake and sensitive areas to the east. PROTECT BENEFICIAL USES - Convert 231 ac. of farmland to natural uses and thereby reduce nutrient loads conveyed in large storm events to Lake Elsinore and Canyon Lake. EQUITABLE INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT PLAN - Through a wider facility and special maint., the project would be compatible with endangered SBKR/LAPM habitat + protect a culturally significant Soboba Tribe cottonwood grove. Project Type: Construction Latitude: Project Location: Longitude: The project is in the middle reach of the San Jacinto River, just north of the City of San Jacinto. The setback levee would be constructed between the existing Corps of Engineers levee 9,500 feet upstream of State Street, and a point about 8,200 feet downstream of Sanderson Avenue, a total length of about 5 miles. Benefit Zone Area (mi2): 111 Project Benefits: Benefits Water supply reliability, conservation and water-use efficiency Stormwater capture, storage, cleanup, treatment and management Removal of invasive species; wetlands creation or enhancement; acquisition, protection and restoration of open space n-point source pollution reduction, management, monitoring Groundwater recharge and management Contaminant and salt removal, reclamation, desalting and conveyance to users Water banking, exchange, reclamation and improvement of water quality Multipurpose flood and stormwater management programs Watershed protection and management Drinking water treatment and distribution 3 of 7 Applicable

4 Ecosystem and fisheries restoration and protection Where Benefits Accrue: Jurisdiction: Explanation: Watershed/Su b-region: Explanation: Synergies: Multiple Communities Multiple communities benefit as the project would provide flood protection for property in both unincorporated County of Riverside and the City of San Jacinto. A rock cutoff wall would be constructed along MWD s pipeline to protect it from erosion hazard and disruption of water service. The conversion of farmland to natural uses will help reduce nutrient loads mobilized during large storm events that impact the impaired waterbodies of Lake Elsinore and Canyon Lake. Single Sub-region The sub-region is the San Jacinto River sub-watershed of the Santa Ana River Improves water quality by converting 231 ac. of farmland to natural uses. Enhances a wildlife corridor between Mystic Lake and sensitive areas to the east and upper San Jacinto River. Assists WR-MSHCP reaching its conservation goals. Unites LAPM and SBKR conservation areas under RCFC&WCD management, assisting RCA. Spur an agreement to protect a culturally significant Soboba Tribe cottonwood grove. City of San Jacinto is lead agency for CEQA, RCFC&WCD will construct, operate and maintain. Benefits to Disadvantaged Communities (DAC) and Native Tribal Communities (NATC) 4 of 7

5 100% DAC: Portion DAC: NA DAC %: % NATC: Portion NATC: NATC %: 10 Project area benefiting DAC (acres) : 1995 Describe DAC and NATC Benefits: The project provides flood risk management for City of San Jacinto which is a DAC, and would improve water quality in the watershed of which the NATC is a part, and would protect a NATC culturally significant cottonwood grove. Human Right to Water: N/A Environmental Justice: N/A Project Partners: Agency Name City of San JAcinto Contact Phone Collab Planning Direct Funding In-Kind Service Sharon Paisley spaisley@sanja cintoca.us Co-Manager Project Funding: Category Amount Percent Total Project Cost $47,000, Requested OWOW 2015 Funding $35,000, Match Contribution $12,000, Local Contribution $12,000, Federal Contribution $ In-Kind Contribution $ Other $ SRF Loan $ Annual O&M Costs: $50, Funding Secured: 5 of 7

6 Explain: RCFC&WCD and San Jacinto have a cost-share agreement. RCFC&WCD is committed to $12,000,000 and an amendment to agreement is forthcoming to raise contribution to $20,000,000. City is working to secure additional funding. Prop 84 grant would fill a funding shortfall. O&M Funding Secured: Explain: Paid for out District share of ad valorum property tax revenue in this zone. Current annual O&M budget for entire zone is $4,168,653 Project Criteria: Criteria Metric Description n-point Source Pollution Reduction 302 lbs removed/yr NA Flood Risk Reduction 7.4e+007 $ NA Natural Hydrology Function Restoration NA The project would re-establish the natural hydrology of the area by constructing a much wider river corridor ---in the early 20th century farming operations had confined the river to a narrow channel against the hills rather than let it run naturally in the middle of the valley. LAPM/SBKR are more adapted to living in wider floodplain areas where lowflows can cut terraces that provide refuge for the animals during smaller storms. It would be a better movement corridor for mammals. The economic value was estimated by multiplying the 351 buildings that would no longer be in the floodplain by the average San Jacinto sales price of $212,000. An added benefit could be the estimated saving of $800,000/year in flood insurance premiums that would no longer be required. Functional Habitat Value Restored or Created NA 300 acres of enhanced river corridor for SBKR/LAPM. And management of 80 acres of upland refuge for LAPM and SBKR so that the corridor can be repopulated after a catastrophic storm. Project Status: Project Status: Preliminary design (30%) completed Est. Complete Date: 10/31/2020 Est. Operational Life (years): 100 Agency Constructed Similar Projects : CEQA Status: In Progress Date: 06/02/ of 7

7 NEPA Status: t Applicable Date: NA Project Attachments: Type Status Status Status FileName 3145_San Jacinto River levee joint funding agreement.pdf 3145_Levee Schedule.pdf 3145_SJR Levee LAPM DBESP.pdf Project Complete: Project Active: 7 of 7