Office of Emergency Services

 

 

County of Santa Cruz, California

 

 

 

   

 

  

 

 

 

FLOOD HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 2002

 

 

 

 

 

 


Table of Contents

 

Introduction & Executive Summary……………….…..….………….……………....…..……….. 2

Flood History………………………………………………..…..……………………………….. 17

San Lorenzo Watershed…………………………….…..…..…..………..….…………………… 19

Soquel Creek Watershed………………………..……….………...…..…………………………. 22

Aptos Creek Watershed…………………………………….………..…….……….…………….. 25

Goals & Objectives……………………………………..…….…..….….…….…………………. 28

Recommended Mitigation Measures…………………….….………..….………………………. 28

Implementation & Evaluation………….………..…………..………….…………….…………. 34



 

INTRODUCTION & EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

 

How This Plan Was Prepared

Background

 

Numerous areas of the county are affected by periodic flooding associated with winter rains.  A total of 73 individual sites throughout the County have been identified as repetitive damage sites under the NFIP.  Not only do these sites suffer repetitive damage, but also many of them are a source of regular evacuation and sheltering response events for the County. 

            Additionally, other sites in the County have the potential to cause collateral damage to residential areas as a result of flood induced damage  
   
         or failure.

            In July of 2001, the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services notified the County that it was eligible to apply for a Planning Grant funded 
   
         by the National Flood Insurance Program to develop a Countywide Flood Mitigation Plan to address repetitive flood damage  issues.  The 
            County submitted a Notice of Interest in January 2002 and the planning grant was awarded by the State of California and accepted by the 
            County in March 2002.

 

Flood Planning Committee

 

o       The Planning Committee was formed by invitation to the following groups and agencies:

           §        County of Santa Cruz

·        Office of Emergency Services

·        Department of Public Works

·        Planning Department

·        Sheriff’s Office

·        County Counsel

§         Felton Fire Protection District

§         Central Fire Protection District

§         United States Fish & Wildlife Service

§         California Department of Fish & Game

§         American Red Cross

§         San Lorenzo Valley Disaster Planning Committee

§         U.S. Soil Conservation Service

·        Resource Conservation District

§         Corralitos Disaster Planning Committee

§         Residents of Felton Grove, Paradise Park, Gold Gulch and other repetitively damaged areas of the County

 

Public Input

 

o       The Draft Plan has been posted to the County Office of Emergency Services Website for public review and comment, and

o       As required by the Planning Grant, a forum was held on September 14, 2002 to discuss the plan and take comments from the public.

    Upon it’s approval by the County Board of Supervisors, the Mitigation Plan will be also be annexed to the County’s All-Hazard Emergency 
    Management Plan.


 

County Background

Santa Cruz County is located on the central coast of California in the southern portion of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services’ Coastal Region.  It extends from the Pacific Ocean on the west, to the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains on the east, the Pajaro River on the south and to the San Mateo County line on the north.  It is adjacent to Santa Clara, San Mateo, San Benito and Monterey Counties.  Santa Cruz County covers an area of 441 square miles and has a population of approximately 245,201 inhabitants according to U.S. Census Bureau, July 1999 data.  Agriculture, tourism and rapidly expanding technology, manufacturing and service sectors are the major local industries.

There are two major highways that run through the County; State Highway 1, which runs north and south along the coastline and State Highway

17, which runs northeast through the Santa Cruz Mountains to the Santa Clara Valley. There are several secondary highways; State Highway 9

connects Santa Cruz and the San Lorenzo Valley to Los Gatos and Saratoga in Santa Clara County.  The communities of the Pajaro Valley are

connected to the City of Gilroy in South Santa Clara County via State Highway 152 and to San Benito County by State Highway 129. 

The County’s single rail line originates in Monterey County and roughly follows the coastline and terminates at the Lone Star Cement plant in the community of Davenport.  This line is owned by Union Pacific Railroad and is utilized on a limited basis to carry lumber, coal, iron oxide and gypsum inbound and cement outbound.

The Watsonville Municipal Airport serves the general aviation community and supports modest commercial operations.  It provides the only fixed runway facility in the County capable of handling large aircraft and is an essential facility in disaster response.

The County’s entire seaward boundary is included in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.  The Sanctuary enjoys special protections to preserve the unique marine environment and species of the Bay. 

Santa Cruz County, with its varying topography, mix of urban and rural areas, rapidly growing permanent, transient and recreational population is subject to a wide variety of impacts from various hazards and threats.  There are three broad categories of hazards, which include: natural, technological and domestic security threats:

Located on the north end of Monterey Bay on California’s central coast, Santa Cruz is one of the smallest counties in the state, in terms of both population and area.  Our location, geology, and geography are a mixed blessing however, offering generally mild year-round weather, but creating conditions that make several areas of the County prone to flood and storm damage.  Based on our population and size, we have suffered a disproportionate number of flood and disaster incidents.  

The mountains and hill ridges that generally border the eastern boundaries of the County tend to squeeze moisture out of arriving Pacific weather systems, and provide fairly significant watershed areas to funnel the falling rain into runoff tributaries.  Periods of very heavy rainfall are common throughout fall and winter months and the two rivers in the County, along with several creeks and streams, can swell to flood stage in a short period of time.  Settlement and habitation in the County, from the historic Ohlone Indian camps through the founding of the Santa Cruz Mission in 1791, and subsequent logging communities throughout the 1800’s, tended to acknowledge the flood plain areas of the rivers and streams, building on the higher ground.  However, as the population grew, particularly in the middle 1900’s, low lying areas near virtually every waterway were encroached upon for housing, business, or agricultural development.

Climatologists point out that the period between 1920 and 1970, the years of most significant growth in Santa Cruz County, was a “dry cycle” for most of central California.  Only one or two instances of serious winter weather in the 1950’s highlighted the consequence of development in low-lying areas.  Over time, land that had previously been avoided was developed for both commercial and residential use in the floodplains of the San Lorenzo and Pajaro Rivers as well as Soquel and Aptos Creeks. 

As a consequence, substantial portions of the City of Santa Cruz and the City of Watsonville have been flooded, houses and businesses in the San Lorenzo Valley have been damaged or destroyed by floodwaters, and there have been losses along the Soquel Creek and Aptos Creek watersheds on multiple occasions over the past half-century. 

Prepared by the County Office of Emergency Services, with information and recommendations gathered through public forums, data and assistance provided by the County Planning Department and the County Public Works Department, with guidance from the State Office of Emergency Services, this document outlines plans which will enable Santa Cruz County to mitigate the threat of future flood hazards, prevent repetitive losses, and better respond to flood events.  These measures include:

1.      Prevention or Minimization of Future Flood Damage

2.      Enhancement of Emergency Management Tools

3.      Property Protection

4.      Structural Projects

5.      Protection of Natural Resources

6.      Public Information

 

 


     Figure 1:  Santa Cruz County

 

 

Natural Hazards

 

In addition to the flooding hazards discussed in this Plan, Santa Cruz County is also subject to a range of other hazards that are addressed in the County Emergency Management Plan.  This Flood Mitigation Plan is designed, therefore, to function as an Annex within the all-hazards emergency response structure in Santa Cruz County.

 

·        Earthquakes

·       Landslides

·      Wildland Fires

·        Extreme Weather/Storm

·        Tsunami

 

 


Earthquake        

 

Several active and potentially active earthquake faults are located within Santa Cruz County including the San Andreas, San Gregorio, Corralitos and Zayante Faults as well as numerous fault complexes and branches of these major faults.

 

Even a moderate earthquake occurring in or near the areas mentioned above could result in deaths, casualties, property and environmental damage, as well as disruption of normal economic, government and community services and activities.  The effects could be aggravated by collateral incidents such as fires, flooding, hazardous material spills, utility disruptions, landslides, and infrastructure collapse.  After any significant earthquake, there may be short and long-term economic impacts to both the public and private sectors.  Individuals can lose wages due to businesses inability to function because of damaged goods or facilities.  Historically, many small businesses fail after a major earthquake due to direct loss of income and inability to remain financially viable after the recovery period.  Governments as well, suffer loss of tax revenues to support essential services as property values are reduced and sales and other related taxes may take years to recover to their pre-disaster levels.

 

Under severe ground acceleration (ground shaking) and liquefaction, Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis reveals that in Santa Cruz County, 5% or approximately 3,884of the structures; 14% of all County roads (303 miles), and a number of essential facilities including: 6 fire stations, 9 schools, and 18 churches, all lie within ½ mile of a fault zone and could suffer major damage.

 


Figure 2:  Major Fault Zones

 

 

 


Figure 3:  Potential Liquefaction Zones


 

 

LANDSLIDE

      

In a strong earthquake, it is extremely likely that landslides will occur simultaneously, depending on ground conditions, or even years later when slideplanes reactivated by the earthquake are set in motion by apparently unrelated events such as heavy rains.  Santa Cruz County is extremely susceptible to landslides due to the topography and geological soil characteristics.  Based on GIS survey analysis, 7.5% of the developed parcels (5,523), 11% of roads (233 miles), 17% of Sheriff’s facilities (2), along with 35% of non-County fire stations (3), are within or intersected by known landslide-prone areas.

 


 


Figure 4:  Potential Landslide Areas

                                                                                                   

 

 

 

WILDLAND FIRE

Widespread fires, both in rural and urban environments, pose a major threat to Santa Cruz County, and specifically for the Flood Mitigation Plan, pose a significant exposure to erosion and impacts to stream channels.  Based on a Geographic Information System (GIS) fire hazard analysis, 5% of the developed parcels in the County (3,538), 8.0% of roads (178 miles), 5% of the CDF fire stations (2), and approximately 4% of the churches are located within a fire-hazard area.



Figure 5:  Severe Fire Hazard Zones

                                                                                                   

 

 

 

EXTREME WEATHER

Because of its direct westerly exposure to weather systems coming from the Pacific Ocean and its geography, which promotes intense

precipitation from storm systems, Santa Cruz County is susceptible to damage from extreme weather/storm conditions.  Most commonly,

extreme weather in Santa Cruz County involves heavy rain and high winds.  Hazards presented by these conditions include:  structural

damage and damage to utility and transportation infrastructure from flooding, landslide/mudslide/debris flow, high erosion and, quite often,

toppling trees. 

 

                                                                                                   

 

 

 

TSUNAMI

The San Gregorio fault is a northwest-southeast trending fault, which begins just offshore in Monterey Bay roughly paralleling the coastline for approximately 100 miles in a northerly direction.  Although relatively little studied until recently, the fault is thought to be the source of several significant earthquakes in historical times.  The Cities of Santa Cruz, Capitola, and Watsonville as well as the residential communities along the coastline would be significantly impacted from a tsunami created by an earthquake on this fault.

 

A tsunami generated by a Richter magnitude 6.8+ earthquake on the San Gregorio fault could arrive just minutes after the initial shock.  The lack of warning time from such a nearby event will result in higher casualties than if it were a distant tsunami where the Tsunami Warning System for the Pacific Ocean could warn threatened coastal areas in time for evacuation.

The County is actively participating with a variety of local, state and national organizations in developing a tsunami threat assessment analysis along with a map of coastal inundation zones.  When the work is complete, the resulting Tsunami Plan will be included by reference as a part of this plan.

 

 

 


Figure 6:  Potential Tsunami Runup Areas

                                                                                                   

 

 

 

Technological Hazards

·    Hazardous Materials Release

·    Transportation Accidents

·    Utilities Failure or Damage

·    Dam Failure

 

 

Hazardous Materials

Hazardous materials are formulated, used and transported throughout Santa Cruz County.  Commercial, agricultural and industrial use of hazardous materials provides an opportunity for accidental release.  Because the local economy depends largely on the agricultural industry, the threat level and the possibility of a hazardous materials release cannot be ignored.  There are a number of local industrial and manufacturing firms, which produce fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemical agents.  These products are also locally stored and transported to other parts of the region on local roadways, thus presenting a threat to public health, safety and the environment.  In a flood event, the potential is high for release or spill of hazardous material into floodwaters.

The Hazardous Materials Area Plan, which addresses this issue, is, by reference, included as a part of this Plan.

 

 

Transportation      

 

There are two major highways that run through the County; State Highway 1 and State Highway 17.  There are also other secondary yet

heavy-traffic routes such as State Highways 9, 129, and 152.  Statistically, all of these routes combined account for 54% of the total highway

accidents in the County.  Should a flood event impact these major routes, the effect on the County would be significant.

 

 

DAM FAILURE

 

The many earth fill dams in or affecting Santa Cruz County are Sempervirens Dam, located on Sempervirens Creek, a tributary of East Wadell

Creek in Big Basin State Park; Newell Creek Dam, located on Newell Creek, a tributary of the San Lorenzo River; and several dams of the

Santa Clara County Water District in Santa Clara County including Anderson, Uvas and Chesboro, which affect the Pajaro River; and San Justo

Dam, located on the San Benito River, sixty-five miles south of Hollister.

 

A dam failure may cause loss of life, damage to property, displacement of people residing in the inundation path, as well as other threats.  Damage

to utilities in the inundation areas could also impact support systems in communities outside the immediate hazard area.  A catastrophic dam failure,

depending on the size of the dam and affected population downstream, could exceed the response capability of local governments.

The Dam threat analysis is planned for completion during 2003 and will be included by reference as a part of this plan

 


Public Awareness and Education

 

The public’s response to any emergency is based on an understanding of the nature of the emergency, the potential hazards, the likely response of emergency services, and knowledge of what individuals and groups should do to increase their chances of survival and recovery.  Public awareness and education prior to an emergency or disaster such as flooding will directly affect Santa Cruz County’s emergency response and recovery efforts.

Santa Cruz County’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) will make emergency preparedness information from local, state and federal sources available to the citizens of Santa Cruz County.  Furthermore, the Office of Emergency Services will provide special emphasis on specific hazards periodically throughout the calendar year, aiding in the disaster preparation and education of the communities within the Santa Cruz County. 

 


Flood History


Santa Cruz County’s geography focuses rainfall into four primary watershed basins: the San Lorenzo River, Soquel Creek, Aptos Creek and Corralitos/Salsipuedes Creeks.  While the Corralitos/Salsipuedes watershed feeds into the Pajaro River, and can be a crucial element in exposure to flooding of the Pajaro in the Watsonville area, the Pajaro’s drainage is predominantly from Southern Santa Clara, San Benito and Monterey Counties.

 Geographically, the San Lorenzo, Soquel, Aptos and Corralitos/Salsipuedes drainages are relatively short and steep compared to the Pajaro River drainage system with significantly shorter flow periods and therefore, shorter warning times for peak flow incidents.

Under a widespread heavy rain scenario (accumulation of .30 inches of rain per hour or more), severe flooding is likely in low-lying areas within a basin.  Based on the 100 year flood plain (FEMA Zone A), 11 % of the developed parcels (8,359) 5% of roads (103 miles), 25% of the sheriff’s facilities (3), 30% of the fire stations (7), 9% of schools (16) and approximately 15% of the churches (32) are located within or intersected by the 100 year flood plain.

The County has suffered repetitive flood damage in a number of major flood incidents; 1982, 1986, 1991, 1995, and 1998 events resulted in tens of millions of dollars in property damage.

 

 


Figure 7:  Flood Hazard Areas

 

 

 

San Lorenzo Watershed

The San Lorenzo River drains a watershed area of roughly 106 square miles in the Santa Cruz Mountains.  River flows typically remain low year-round (under 5 feet), presenting no threat to surrounding areas during normal conditions.   Floods resulting in significant property damage and loss can develop rapidly in winter months due to intense precipitation that can occur and the relatively small size and steep slopes of the drainage basin.   Small basins typically experience rapid responses to precipitation anomalies, thus reducing warning time and degrading estimates of peak flood stage.  Forecasts of floods in regions such as the San Lorenzo River basin require regular and accurate observations of current conditions, as well as a good understanding of the evolution of local weather systems.

 

 


Figure 8:  San Lorenzo River Watershed
 

 


 
Figure 9:  San Lorenzo Watershed and FIRM Classifications

 

 

Soquel Creek Watershed

 

Soquel Creek drains a long, narrow, 32 square mile watershed that drops nearly 3000 feet in elevation.  With headwaters very near the Loma Prieta summit, Soquel Creek collects the flow of a second (western) branch, a half-dozen other creeks, and several unnamed tributaries along the way.  As is true with other major waterways in Santa Cruz County, the heavy rainfall that can be typical during winter months can fill the creek quickly.

A fairly long waterway, Soquel Creek drains a number of canyons and as a result is intersected by smaller creeks including Western Soquel Creek, Bates Creek, Love Creek, Hinkley Creek, Burnes Creek, Amaya Creek, and Hester Creek as it travels west.  Complications and flooding are seen when the relatively rough and undeveloped watershed produces natural obstacles and jams, and when already heavy flows are impacted by the additional volumes from joining tributaries.  Closer to developed areas of the County, several flood events have resulted from trees, stumps and debris carried by the creek creating blockages and jams at roadway bridges.



Figure 10:  Soquel Watershed

 

 


  
Figure 11:  Soquel Watershed and FIRM Classifications

 

 

Aptos Creek Watershed

 
Aptos Creek drains a watershed of roughly 25 square miles, including the Forest of Nisene Marks area and Valencia Creek.  The steep elevation drop (approx 2000 feet) and narrow canyons produce very fast volume increases during periods of heavy rain.  The geography and terrain combine to present physical barriers (log and root jams, etc) to creek flows during winter storms that also cause downstream complications. Extended periods of extremely heavy rainfall can be common during ‘wet’ winters, particularly in the northeastern end of the watershed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


   Figure 12:  Aptos/San Andreas Watersheds

 

 


Figure 13:  Aptos/San Andreas Watershed and FIRM Classifications

 

 

 

Goals and Objectives

 

1.      Prevention or Minimization of Future Flood Damage

 

2.      Enhancement of Emergency Management Tools

 

3.      Property Protection

 

4.      Structural Projects

 

5.      Protection of Natural Resources

 

6.      Public Information

 

 

 

 

 

Recommended Mitigation Measures

 

 

1.                 Prevention or Minimization of Future Flood Damage

 

a.             Floodplain development regulations to restrict or prohibit development in flood zones

                      The County will develop, adopt, update and revise a Geologic Hazards Ordinance.  The ordinance will incorporate the latest
  
                  provisions of the FEMA Model Ordinance that restricts development in flood zones.

                       Responsibility:  County Planning Department

                      Timeline:  3rd Quarter Fiscal 2002-03

                      Partners: 

                      Budget:  $5,000

 

b.                 Open space preservation in flood zones

           Through its application of the Geologic Hazards Ordinance and Open Space Preservation policies, the County will regulate
  
       development in flood zones to optimize preservation of open space.

Responsibility:  County Planning Department

                      Timeline:  3rd Quarter Fiscal 2002-03

                      Partners:  Department of Public Works

                      Budget:  $ N/A

 

c.             Maintenance of drainage system infrastructure

The Department of Public Works Road Operations crews will expand its existing inspection and maintenance of the drainage systems within the county-maintained roads during the rainy season.  Problem spots with more recurrent flooding occurrences will be monitored frequently to remove any drainage system blockage and minimize flooding. Drainage Operations crews maintain drainage channels as well as county-maintained drainage systems outside the County’s right of way.

In preparation for the winter rains, starting in July or as allowed by permitting agencies, Drainage Operations crews will inspect and clear vegetation, remove silt and sand bars as needed in drainage channels, creeks and rivers.  Clean up will continue during the year and specifically after rainstorms to remove debris, logs and large items from the channels.  Areas in flood plains will be monitored frequently during rainstorms to prevent flooding as much as possible.  Countywide logjam removal programs will be active year round and specifically before the rainy season and after rainstorms.

                       Responsibility:  County Public Works Department

                      Timeline:  2nd Quarter Fiscal 2003-04

Partners:  County Planning Department, California Department of Fish & Game, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

                      Budget:  $100,000

 

d.            Stormwater management

                     The County’s General Plan Policies require retention of storm water runoff from impervious surfaces for all new development in the
  
                 Ground Water Recharge Zone and the Water Supply Watershed zone on site.  These Zones cover over 50 percent of the county
                     where the soils have high permeability rates.  The county will establish guidelines and standard details for on-site percolation system
                     design as well as best management practices to increase storm water retention and decrease flash floods, although it will be equally
                     important that downstream capacity be maintained to insure that the storm drain system can handle peak flows.

                      Responsibility:  County Public Works Department

                      Timeline:  4th Quarter Fiscal 2002-03

Partners:  County Planning Department, California Department of Fish & Game, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of Water Resources

                      Budget:  $25,000

 

e.            Vegetation and erosion control to maintain storm and flood flows

                    County operations crews will be trained on best management practices in erosion control measures.  Erosion control manuals
                     incorporating best management practices will be prepared for use by development review, project design and field staff.  Operations
                     crews will maintain drainage courses and clear vegetation as necessary to maximize channel capacity and minimize channel
                     overtopping possibilities.

                      Responsibility:  County Public Works Department

                      Timeline:  2nd Quarter Fiscal 2003-04

Partners:  County Planning Department, California Department of Fish & Game, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Soil Conservation District

                      Budget:  $25,000

 

2.                 Enhancement of Emergency Management Tools

a.             Upgrade the ALERT Flood warning system

                     The County will upgrade its existing ALERT flood warning system from an outdated QNIX operating system to Windows based
                     software for a PC and two laptops. 

                      Responsibility:  County Public Works Department

                      Timeline:  4th Quarter Fiscal 2002-03

Partners:  County Planning Department, National Weather Service, and County Office of Emergency Services

                      Budget:  $5,000

 

             b.           Update and upgrade the FEMA flood zone maps & correlate with County GIS

                     The Planning Department will work with the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and U.S Army Corps of Engineers
                     (engineering contractors to DWR) to update the flood hazard area maps for areas where data is either lacking, known to be
  
                  inaccurate or ripe for revision due to changes in the flood plain.  For example, the flooding pattern on portions of Soquel Creek may
                     have changed with the replacement and raising of two bridges.

                    Responsibility:  County Planning Department

                    Timeline:  3rd Quarter Fiscal 2003-04

                    Partners:  California Department of Water Resources, USACE, FEMA, County GIS Group

                    Budget:  $75,000

 

            c.             Installation of webcams to monitor stream levels visually, pointed to staff gauges where feasible

                     An inexpensive webcam system will allow emergency services staff to be able to have real-time video streamed to the EOC for visual
                     verification of water levels without having to send staff to the field.  Based on information from the State of Arizona, which operates a
                     similar system, the long-term maintenance costs are very low and it is may be possible to work out an agreement with the USGS for
                     equipment installation and maintenance.

                      Responsibility:  County Public Works Department

                      Timeline:  4th Quarter Fiscal 2003-04

Partners:  County Planning Department, California Department of Fish & Game, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, County Office of Emergency Services, USGS

                      Budget:  $10,000

 

d.             Densify the existing ALERT rain gauge network, expand to Aptos Creek, upgrade software

                     The existing system must be improved primarily in the mid-elevation levels.  Aptos Watershed does not have any gauges or instream
                     sensors at this time.  There is also a great need for gauges at the mid-elevations within the San Lorenzo River watershed where there
                     are more tributaries that need to be monitored in order to determine where water is flowing from.

There are currently no gauges in the Aptos Creek watershed.  The problem with locating another gauge on Aptos Creek is there is a large portion of the watershed that drains through Valencia Creek.  Valencia Creek does not connect to Aptos Creek until it reaches Aptos, leaving no time for an alert to be sent out.  A minimum of four gauges would need to be placed in the upper and lower reaches of both Valencia and Aptos Creeks and another at their confluence, above Soquel/Spreckles bridge.  The problem with placing a gauge at the lower end of Aptos Creek is the tidal influences (high tide), which would throw off the true readings and make the gauge ineffective.  By adding these gauges and instream sensors, the County would be able to receive warnings prior to flood waters reaching Aptos/Rio Del Mar.

                      Responsibility:  County Public Works Department

                      Timeline:  3rd Quarter Fiscal 2004-05

Partners:  County Planning Department, California Department of Fish & Game, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S.G.S., National Weather Service

                      Budget:  $50,000

 

3.                 Property Protection

 

a.             Relocation or elevation of critical facilities

 
                     When potential floods endanger critical facilities such as fire stations or hospitals, it is desirable to relocate them to an area where they
                     will not be affected in order to continue to provide service in what is perhaps the time of greatest need, during a natural disaster or
                     emergency. 

For example, the fire station in Soquel is located very near the floodway of Soquel Creek.  The ability to respond to emergencies during a flood event is compromised due to floodwater, and deep silting of the street.  This was the situation in the flood of 1982.  Elevation of the fire station, or relocation to higher ground, would allow uninterrupted functioning of a critical facility.

Responsibility:  County Office of Emergency Services

                      Timeline:  4th Quarter Fiscal 2005-06

Partners:  multiple agencies

                      Budget:  $450,000

  

b.          Public Infrastructure Floodproofing Assessment

                    This work will involve studies to identify future projects such as the armoring of critical bridges, roads and other infrastructure with
                    protective or diversionary structures or devices to prevent damage from high flows and debris.

                    Responsibility:  County Public Works Department

                    Timeline:  3rd Quarter Fiscal 2003-04

                    Partners:  County Office of Emergency Services, California Department of Fish & Game, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, CalTrans

                    Budget:  $250,000

            

             c.             Property Acquisitions

d.             Relocation of repetitively damaged structures

e.             Elevation of structures

 

Flood mitigation for residential property may take several forms.  Acquisition, or buying out a homeowner, is one method, but has been proven too expensive in Santa Cruz County due to high real estate prices.  Relocation is similarly prohibitive, since it involves finding a similar parcel, purchasing it, and moving the house to that location.  Vacant lots are expensive and hard to find in Santa Cruz County. 

 

The remaining alternative is elevation, in which a house is raised above the level of the 100-year flood.  Elevation is a relatively simple solution, involving the use of hydraulic jacks to elevate the house, much in the same manner as jacking a car to change a tire.  It is expensive, since it requires much equipment, experience, insurance and material.  Once elevated, a new cast in place concrete foundation is built, and supporting walls and beams installed.  The house is then lowered onto the new base, perhaps as much as 10’ higher than it previously sat.  Elevations in Santa Cruz County have been particularly expensive due to a small field of contractors qualified to perform the work.

 

The County will work with local property owners to maximize the use of Flood Mitigation Assistance funds and other compatible funding sources.

 

 
 Partially elevated house in Felton Grove

                     

Responsibility:  County Office of Emergency Services

                      Timeline:  4th Quarter Fiscal 2004-05

Partners:  County Planning Department, Property Owners

                      Budget:  $3,000,000

 


4.                 Structural Projects

 

a.             Minor channel modifications combined with wetland enhancement

b.             Construction of small scale diversion or retention structures

c.             Removal or alteration of impediments to storm water flow

 

Biotechnical practices may include brush layering, live staking, wattles, brush mattress, vegetated stream deflectors, live cribwall, soil wrap, vegetated geo-revetments and other vegetative practices.

In order to develop a realistic long-term flood mitigation plan, it will be important to conduct an inter-disciplinary assessment of each of the three target watersheds followed by a plan.  After the plan is complete, it will need to be permitted and then implementation can occur.  There will also need to be a full monitoring component to assess each of the practices and make any appropriate modifications to the plan.  It will take 1-2 years to conduct the assessment and develop the plan.  Permits may take as long as 1-3 years dependent on the practice, extent of impact etc.  Streambank stabilization and the development of a Riparian Management Plan will be necessary to conduct work in the three target watersheds.  Each of the project areas will require extensive scientific review, public input and public hearings.

Given the extent of the work proposed, it is likely that a 3-5 year window will be required for implementation.  Based on other similar work in the County, the assessment cost could be in the range of $500,000, plus $100-150,000 to develop the plan, approximately $100,000 for permits and $300,000 per year for five years to implement the flood mitigation measures identified in the plans.

Responsibility:  Resource Conservation District

Timeline:  4th Quarter Fiscal 2007-08

Partners:  County Planning Department, Property Owners, U. S. Fish & Wildlife, California Fish & Game

Budget:  $3,000,000

 

 

5.                Natural Resource Protection

a.             Erosion and sediment control

In development review, process measures will be taken to prevent filling of natural swamps and natural recharge ponds resulting from development.  County staff will monitor conditions of development and grading permits as well as illegal unpermitted activities to prevent filling in natural channels and wetlands.

Public Works Design Criteria will incorporate changes to require runoff retention system details to be submitted with permit applications. The efficacy of erosion and sediment control measures will be closely monitored in the field.

                      Responsibility:  County Public Works Department, County Planning Department

                      Timeline:  4th Quarter Fiscal 2002-03

Partners:  County Planning Department, California Department of Fish & Game, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

                      Budget:  $5,000

 

6.                 Public Information

 

a.                        Outreach and education

This objective will develop public education materials both in print and web-based formats.  The County will also maximize opportunities to work collaboratively with community groups, non-governmental organizations and the local media.

               Responsibility:  County Office of Emergency Services

                Timeline:  2nd Quarter Fiscal 2003-4

Partners:  County Information Services Department GIS Section, various agencies

Budget:  $5,000

 

 

Implementation and Evaluation

·        To monitor progress on implementation of the Plan, the County will convene quarterly meetings of the Flood Mitigation Planning Committee to assess and evaluate progress on each Objective.  Additionally, the Committee will work with responsible agencies on the inclusion of Plan Objectives in their annual budgets and work programs.  The Committee will prepare an Annual Evaluation and Report and distribute the report to the Board of Supervisors, the County’s Floodplain Manager for inclusion in the annual Community Rating System Report, the local news media and the public.

         Responsibility:  County Office of Emergency Services

                     Timeline:  2nd Quarter Fiscal 2003-04 through 2nd Quarter Fiscal 2006-07

        Partners:  County Planning Department, various agencies

                     Budget:  $10,000 Annually