Because the Council has no land use authority to address subsidence issues, the Plan should focus on creating incentives—rather than punishment—for positive actions by individual landowners and local agencies, such as set-back levees. The ability of local agencies to meet matching requirements in cost-share formulas is an issue given the large amount of funding flowing toward levee improvements. One option would be to reduce cost-share requirements in order to promote positive actions. It is possible to get up to 95% non-local contribution for setback levees, for example. Acquisition of easements is also an option under existing legislation but has proved problematic, e.g., on Webb Tract. The Plan should have as a basic assumption that Delta levees will be needed into the future. water supply and water quality must be maintained over the long term. III. Next Steps This work session summary and others will be available on the council website: . Any written comments on the Fifth Staff Draft are due to the Council not later than September 30, 2011. You may contact the Council via email: or call (916) 445-5383.
Because the Council has no land use authority to address subsidence issues, the Plan should focus on creating incentives—rather than punishment—for positive actions by individual landowners and local agencies, such as set-back levees. The ability of local agencies to meet matching requirements in cost-share formulas is an issue given the large amount of funding flowing toward levee improvements. One option would be to reduce cost-share requirements in order to promote positive actions. It is possible to get up to 95% non-local contribution for setback levees, for example. Acquisition of easements is also an option under existing legislation but has proved problematic, e.g., on Webb Tract. The Plan should have as a basic assumption that Delta levees will be needed into the future. water supply and water quality must be maintained over the long term. III. Next Steps This work session summary and others will be available on the council website: . Any written comments on the Fifth Staff Draft are due to the Council not later than September 30, 2011. You may contact the Council via email: or call (916) 445-5383.