Senator Dodd’s Napa Flood Control Law Signed by Governor

SACRAMENTO – Gov. Jerry Brown has signed into law a bill from Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, authorizing the state to fund construction of the uncompleted phases of the Napa River flood protection project when there are no available federal funds.

“This important project is about safeguarding the people of Napa from a potential disaster caused by rising waters ,” Senator Dodd said. “I am proud to help see it to fruition.”

Senate Bill 1073 was signed Friday after winning overwhelming support in the Assembly and Senate. It authorizes state funding from general obligation bonds, grants or upon appropriation by the Legislature, to be used for the Napa River project. The project, first authorized in 1965, covers improvements to six miles of the river from Highway 29 at Butler Bridge to about Trancas Street and Napa Creek. Phases of it have continued until recently with federal, state and local funding. There is no current federal funding appropriated for its continuation, leaving it stalled and contingent on federal action. The project includes bank terracing, bridge replacement, and creating bypass channels, culverts, floodwalls and levees.

Napa Mayor Jill Techel, who is chairwoman of the county’s Flood Control and Water Conservation District board, lauded the law’s passage.

“We need to protect all parts of the Napa community that were included in the original flood control project,” Techel said. “We appreciate that the state and Senator Dodd understand that the project isn’t completed until all parts of it are done.”

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Senator Bill Dodd represents the 3rd Senate District, which includes all or portions of Solano, Napa, Sonoma, Yolo, Contra Costa, and Sacramento counties. You can learn more about the district and Senator Dodd at www.sen.ca.gov/dodd.