Flood control cuts slow progress in north state
As California grappled with drought conditions over the past three years, flooding was the last thing on most people’s minds. That changed this month when bomb cyclone rainstorms saturated the state and left communities reeling from rushing water. Unbeknownst to many, work on flood control progressed during the dry times. Chico-based River Partners has supplemented repairs to levies by restoring watersheds in the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys. … Much of this work is on hold, however, after Gov. Gavin Newsom announced deep cuts to the state budget that hit flood plain projects particularly hard. From funding levels of $250 million a year, the governor cut flooding mitigation to $135 million — a fraction of the $360 million to $560 million called for in the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan adopted in 2012 and updated last year.
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