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Marin County Flood Control
Regional Planning & Flood Control in Marin - WinCupped again?
Once again, we are being regionalized, marginalized and ultimately, disenfranchised by a top down planning process. Has the County learned nothing from Judge Chernus’ ruling that the Supervisors violated the Brown Act?
Marin taxpayers bailing the County out of massive liability and on-going project expenses after little to no public participation may result from decisions on the Marin County flood fee about which you have had little to no say. You may be unaware of environmental effects on your community because of conflicting reports, obfuscation, and attempts to cloak County decisions.
The Corps of Engineers’ original flood control project channel extended from the Bay and Larkspur into Fairfax. The constructed portion of the project has a purported life span of 100 years, but after only 10 years, the channel failed: random hydraulic jumps caused over-topping and flood waters in neighborhoods, a design flaw that exists today.
Why should Marin residents become responsible for the maintenance, and liability of this deficient project?
Years ago, the County demanded mitigation and restitution from the Corps, but today’s stance is one of capitulation and compliance. The apparent strategy is to partition off small sectors of the County (marginalization) in order to make multiple design contracts (regionalization) with a goal of signing off on the Corps of Engineers project: the County taxpayers take on the liability of the admitted, recognized deficient Corps project (disenfranchisement).
Who is in charge: County DPW, County Flood Control and Water Conservation, Flood Zone District #9, MMWD, The Supervisors, local government, or The Army Corps of Engineers?
Flood Control is carved into diverse authorities, an allocation that blurs boundaries and creates confusion. This is the Regionalized Planning Process that discourages public participation and prevents comprehensive understanding of outcome, costs and benefits.
WinCup redux.
At a recent, neighborhood meeting a project was presented for review, but no plans were provided. When questioned by residents, Supervisor Rice, the consultants, and Flood Control #9 representative acknowledged they had not seen the project site. What flood control measures are afoot that may affect your community? Is the plan for 100-year, 38-year or 25-year floods?
At a January 28, “scoping meeting” for a full scale EIS/EIR that includes 24 separate issues, residents are asked to comment by 4 PM February 16th. Comment on what? The Public Notice, which is opaque and deficient in detail, seeks ensure “thorough and adequate” review, but, is it possible to comply with comment requirements? Eighteen days are allowed for understanding and written comment on a massive scope project extending from Fairfax to Larkspur and the Bay. No staff reports or plans have been made available. Once again, the public is blind-sided while the project moves forward unhindered.
What is needed is a comprehensive, transparent process for each community to learn the detriments and benefits of any planned flood projects, where residents’ ideas and experiences may evolve into new concepts, and recognition of changing conditions such as Bay rise are assured in developing plans.
The County seems intent on Divide and Conquer. Voters in San Anselmo fought back defeating Memorial Park’s use as a detention basin. Can Marin replace referendum and litigation with an honest attempt at public involvement?
Please, take part in the Jan 28 “scoping” at the Marin Art & Garden Center Jan 28, 6 PM to protest flood control that has become political process.
PUBLIC NOTICE
The Marin County Flood Control and Water Conservation District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be preparing a joint Environmental Impact Statement / Environmental Impact Report for review and comment on the Corte Madera Creek Flood Control Project .View notice here.
An initial Public Scoping Meeting will be held at the Marin Art and Garden Center (30 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, Ross) on January 28, 2016 from 6 pm to 8 pm and public comments will be accepted until February 16, 2016.