DR-4407-CA Public Notice 006

FINAL PUBLIC NOTICE: Sacramento County House Elevation Program Phase 5, Sacramento County, California | HMGP-4407-038-073

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) proposes to provide federal financial assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to Sacramento County, California, to mitigate flood risk from the Sacramento River and its tributaries (proposed action) by elevating residential structures. Pursuant to Executive Order 11988 (Floodplain Management) and FEMA’s implementing regulations at Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 9, FEMA hereby provides interested parties with a notice of its final decision and an explanation of the alternatives that were considered.

The purpose of the proposed action is to reduce flood hazards in the communities of Hood, Elk Grove, Rio Linda, Courtland, and Walnut Grove. The proposed action consists of elevating up to 18 residential structures above the base flood elevation. At each location, 1) the existing house would be lifted above its existing foundation, 2) portions of the foundation would be removed to allow flood resistant construction of a new, properly anchored and vented foundation, and 3) the house would be anchored to the new higher foundation. All work would be contained within a small footprint area around each existing house. This project would not include any tunneling, boring, or pit excavation. Trees and any environmentally sensitive areas would be marked for avoidance during construction, and staging would occur in driveways or on surface streets adjacent to each existing house.

The existing houses are in the 100-year floodplain of the Sacramento River as depicted on FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) Panel Numbers 06067C0054H, 06067C0405H, 06067C0410H, 06067C0450H, and 06067C0555H, dated August 16, 2012. The FIRMs show that the project areas lie within Zone AE, an area with a 1-percent probability of flooding every year and where predicted floodwater elevations have been established. One structure is in a floodway.

A map of the project area and its location within the floodplain is available for public inspection. Parties interested in receiving a copy of the map should contact the FEMA Region IX Environmental Officer using contact information provided in this notice.  

Three alternatives to the proposed action were considered: Alternative 1, no action; Alternative 2: proposed action; and Alternative 3, structural flood control system. Alternative 1 would not provide further protection to the structures. This Alternative is not recommended because there remains a high risk of damage to these structures from reoccurring floods. Alternative 3 would include a structural flood control system. This Alternative is not recommended due to the costs with constructing such a system and this Alternative not an available option at all site locations. FEMA has determined that Alternative 2 (the proposed action) is the only practicable alternative available; therefore, the proposed action must be located in a floodplain. The proposed action would have no significant adverse impact on the floodplain and would benefit the area by reducing the risk of flooding and flood damage. Therefore, measures to minimize impacts on the floodplain are not necessary. Sacramento County has declared that the proposed action conforms to local floodplain standards and is responsible for the management and construction of the proposed action.  

Additional information about FEMA’s proposed action may be requested by writing the FEMA Region IX Environmental Officer at FEMA, 1111 Broadway, Suite 1200, Oakland, California 94607, or fema-rix-ehp-documents@fema.dhs.gov, or calling (510) 627-7027. All requests should be received no later than 15 days after publication of this notice. No action will be taken before this date.