The Flood Maintenance Office (FMO) has integrated the goals of its program with mission and statutory obligations of the Department of Water Resources and the objectives of FloodSAFE Implementation Plan and the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan. Projects selected for bond funding (as well as those receiving funds from the General Fund) are to be consistent with the FloodSAFE Implementation Plan.
The FMO maintains portions of the Sacramento River Flood Control Project (Project), which was constructed by the federal government and turned over to the State for operation and maintenance. The FMO fulfills the assurances provided to the federal government by adequately maintaining the Project. A Memorandum of Understanding was executed in November, 1953 between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and the State of California that describes the State’s responsibility for maintaining the Project features.
Sections 8361 and 12648 of the California Water Code give DWR the authority to maintain the Project. Project features covered in the authority include river channels, hydraulic control structures, designated levees, and ancillary structures. (Levees not designated as State responsibility are maintained by local maintaining agencies.) Bond 1E Chapter 1.699, Article 4, Section 5096.821(a) provides for the use of bond funds for the evaluation, repair, rehabilitation, reconstruction, or replacement of levees, weirs, bypasses, and facilities of the State Plan of Flood Control by repairing erosion sites, removing sediment from channels or bypasses, evaluating and repairing levees and other facilities, and implementing mitigation measures.
Contracts prepared by the FMO describe plans and specifications of the work to be performed. Inspectors within the department and outside consultants monitor work progress and provide inspection reports to project managers. These reports are used by the project managers to ensure that the work complies with contract requirements. Once completed, the projects are maintained as part of the flood control system maintenance stipulated in Section 8361 of the Water Code.
Project costs are reviewed prior to award of bond funds to ensure they are eligible costs. In addition, all contracts for professional services (and their task orders), and all construction contracting performed by the Division of Engineering, are reviewed by the Department of General Services to ensure compliance with State contracting procedures.
In addition, the Department has organized a FloodSAFE Program Management Office to document policies and procedures for bond accountability. Project budget and expenditures are tracked and reported to the public via the Department’s bond accountability web site.