Update on Sespe Creek
Yesterday, several residents attended the presentation by Ventura County Watershed Protection. The engineering consultants discussed their findings on hydrology and geomorphic studies conducted since January 2008.
The conclusions are that due to increased frequency and intensity of storms, the section of levee below the Old Telegraph bridge will not be certified by FEMA.
The County and Army Corps of Engineers are evaluating the most cost effective solutions. The recommendation will likely be to raise the levee.
Until any action is completed, homeowners with mortages will be required to purchase flood insurance on homes that are in the floodplain.
Flood insurance premiums can be purchased prior to January 2010 at a reduced rate. If purchased after that time, premiums could be up to $1800 per year.
The City will host a meeting with FEMA and insurance specialists on October 22nd, 6:30 at the Veteran's Memorial building. Notices will be sent out but I hope you put the date on your calendar now.
posted by Gayle Washburn @ 11:17 AM
6 Comments
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6 Comments:
Well History is going to repeat itself!
This winter is an El Nino, Los Serenos in the 70's flooded. You had to have flood insurance then. Now there are 5 times more homes there in jeopardy. Now the people will suffer with added costs and probability of losing their homes.
Us old timers have known for years that the Sespe and Santa Clara are unpredictable. I do hope in the up coming Elections, the people vote for Council people who will consider these probabilities.
I recall the Bridges, Pole Creek and Santa Clara were an issue of flooding. S Conaway said and I quote," I am not going to worry about the future, the sky is not falling yet." What a terrible statement. I recall thinking, preventative steps do payoff in the long run when it comes to preventing loss of lives and property. He didn't care and still doesn't. The building went on and still does.
Gayle if you doubt my quote about Conaway, look up the minutes. I guarantee you will find that statement or others who remember it.
In conclusion?
Is the Watershed Protection District
going to control the sediment in the Sespe Creek?
Anonymous 1 & 2:
Fillmore is in a unique situation: surrounded by rivers/creeks on three sides. Flood protection will be an ongoing challenge.
Yes, they are unpredictable, however, the County has conducted the study with the most comprehensive data and modeling available. We need to do our best to be prepared for any flooding. That includes having proper insurance and a disaster plan - and - supporting the County's efforts and flood management strategies.
As far as sedimentation, no one would be able to "control" the sediment in Sespe Creek. According to a chart in the study, the 2005 rains yielded approximately 16,000,000 TONS of sediment!
With this volume, the conclusions were that sediment removal did not have an effective cost benefit.
(anon #2 - sorry I had to edit your comments. They were a little inflammatory. I hope my comments above explain why that idea will not be moving forward.
Gayle, I am not sure why your are referring to "controling" sediment. You are correct that we can't control sediment, but you miss the point, we must METIGATE sediment as they do all over the world, Panama canel they remove sediment with dredgers on a daily basis, ventura harbor also utilizes a dredger, the mississipi river uses dredgers, they try to control sediment through mitigation. Yes it is an ongoing battle, but with the budget fiasco or complete lack of transparency with only 1 day for the public to review the final budget after finding 37 errors on the previous rough draft, I seriously question your undertanding of this issue.
anonymous(Roy?): I think it is you who doesn't understand the issue. The sedimentation conclusions and recommendations were made by the geologist consultant for Watershed Protection based on their study.
As far as the budget - it was available in draft form since June and there were four meetings held to discuss the line items. As Mayor Walker pointed out, this was the first time the budget was available to the public in draft form.
If you have a list of errors in the proposed budget you need to present them to the City Manager and they can be corrected in the October final budget approvals.
Gayle: I wouldn't waste your time chatting with Roy Payne unless you feel like you can get through the RAIN MAN.
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