THE SACRAMENTO BEE'S MANY POSITIONS ON FLOOD CONTROL FOR THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY
The controversy over flood control protection for the Sacramento Valley has put The Sacramento Bee in a number of different positions as to what facilities should be constructed. One included support for construction of a flood control dam at Auburn that could be expanded to store water, provide electric power, enhance recreation, and provide environmental protection for the Bay-Delta region advocated by Congressman John Doolittle.
The controversy has reduced the paper to arguing with itself about what the best solution for flood control is. In a June 12, 1996 editorial "The Options at Auburn" The Bee wrote concerning alternatives: "In essence there are five, and three are bad. First, there's the possibility that nothing will happen - that environmental and fiscal opposition to the community's proposal for a flood control dam at Auburn will block the project once again." "Potentially even worse over the long term is the plan for releasing massive flood flows downstream during heavy rains, which environmentalists tout as their preferred alternative. According to local, state and federal engineers, this is the most dangerous of all the flood plans under review, posing major risks both for public safety and the environment. It is also the most expensive in terms of local costs it would impose because it fails nearly all tests for justifying federal investment." The third was a proposal by the President (Clinton) to spend $57 million to improve levees and flood control facilities, and the fourth called for modification of the Folsom Dam to double its present level of protection. The Bee went on to say: "The fifth alternative, the expandable flood control dam that's being proposed by a bipartisan coalition of all the congressional representatives would preserve those options. In addition to providing a maximum level of flood protection and the best return on the federal investment - at least as the Corps of Engineers calculates these things - it could one day provide an ample supply of water to meet a wide range of environmental needs, not just locally, but also in the Delta and elsewhere." The Bee ended the editorial by announcing the region is behind the expandable dam and "the time has come for Congress to act." If you think about that endorsement, it would sound like something written by Congressman Doolittle, who fought in Washington DC to get the dam written into legislation. Congress did act, and sent us the $57 million to fix the levees!
Two years later, in a June 26, 1998 editorial titled "Doolittle's doodle," The Bee pointed out that Congressmen Fazio and Matsui broke away from the other local congressmen, and now supported the "Potentially even worse" option that would raise levees to try to hold roughly two-thirds more flood water rushing down our rivers, termed "the most dangerous of all flood plans." The Bee then considered the "worse plan" - "a sound, well conceived plan." Congressman Doolittle was able to derail this proposal, with support from the Auburn Dam Council and others, including the Taxpayers League.
Now, in a June 28, 2001 editorial, "No more hostages" The bee has a third position on flood control. It relates to the fourth alternative above, i.e., raising the height of the Folsom Dam. The intent is to increase storage enough to hold back more flood water, hopefully enabling the increased reservoir capacity to be sufficient to squeak by the minimum 200-year storm minimum requirement established by all concerned with flood control in our Valley. And while sliding from position to position The Bee has changed from supporting Congressman John Doolittle to castigating him, and attacking Supervisor Roger Niello also for their consistent support of a multipurpose dam at Auburn.
If The Bee cast their net a little further they could add Congressmen Pombo, Herger, and possibly Ose; Senator Oller; and Assemblymen Leslie and Pescetti, now President of the Auburn Dam Council, who all support the Auburn Dam. And a little known secret is that Congressman Matsui still believes the Auburn Dam is the best solution for flood control in our Valley! I heard him say that to the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. If you don't believe me, ask him.
Joe Sullivan, Executive Director