🚀 go-pugleaf

Dear Richard Penny:
>From your below post I am in question as to the purpose of the Friends
of the River (F.O.R.). Is it F.O.R or F.O.R. Flood??
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Richard Penny wrote:
> 
> Media Advisory                            Contact: Charles Casey
> January 7, 1997                               916/442-3155
> 
>       River group calls for review of existing flood protection system
> 
> Sacramento - Friends of the River (F.O.R.), California's largest river
> conservation group, today suggested that a reassessment of the Central
> Valley's existing flood control facilities be initiated in light of the
> damaging 1997 floods.
> 
>    "It is clear where and when flood officials have paid close attention to
> existing structures and operations - the American River flood control
> system, for example - that flood control facilities can work well," said
> Betsy Reifsnider, executive director at F.O.R.  "We certainly don't need to
> straitjacket our rivers or build a series of new dams to fight the floods
> we've seen.  Indeed, it's ironic that some of the worst flooding has been
> just downstream from two of the largest dams in the state: Oroville and Don
> Pedro dams."
> 
>    Reifsnider noted that in the Sacramento area the American River flood
> control system worked well during the recent storms, largely because of the
> efforts of flood officials and F.O.R. during the past decade.  As a result
> of intensive analysis, planning, and actual construction, the federal dam
> at Folsom is now operated much more prudently during the flood season,
> levees have been bolstered and strengthened, and American River levees in
> particular are targeted for much more work because Congress - prompted by
> F.O.R. lobbying efforts - approved a $57 million flood control package for
> the capital city area late last year.
> 
>    Despite those forthcoming improvements, there is still more work that
> can be done along the American River.  Enlarging the river outlet works and
> lowering the spillways at Folsom Dam would offer much more flexibility and
> safety during large storm events.  Couple that with raising and improving
> downstream banks and levees along the American River and Sacramento will
> enjoy even more flood protection.
> 
>    "The recent flooding throughout the Central Valley underscores the fact
> that we do not need something like an Auburn dam.  A structure on the North
> Fork of the American River - no matter how big or expensive - would have
> done nothing for the people and property hit by flooding along the Feather,
> Bear, Cosumnes, San Joaquin, Mokelumne, Stanislaus or Tuolumne rivers,"
> said Ron Stork, associate conservation director and flood control
> specialist for F.O.R.  "Let's get serious about evaluating our flood
> control system and stop wasting time on an unnecessary, billion dollar dam
> that would be located on an earthquake fault."
> 
>    Borrowing in part from the 1994 federal task force recommendations that
> followed the Mississippi floods (a study by the Interagency Floodplain
> Management Review Committee known as the "Galloway Report"), Friends of the
> River makes the following suggestions for improving public safety while
> preserving the important features of the state's rivers:
> 
> *  Analyze and reassess the entire flood system in the Central Valley;
> *  Consider levee reinforcement, upgrades and future setbacks in order to
> 
>    improve waterway conveyance reliability and efficiency;
> *  Improve flood control operations at existing dams;
> *  Make better land use and floodplain management decisions so people can
> safely
>    build, or simply avoid building, in at-risk areas;
> *  Encourage more hazard mitigation in flood prone areas, including such things
>    as buyouts, floodproofing buildings by elevating them, flood warning system
>    improvements, and increased flood hazard awareness programs;
> *  Encourage flood insurance for those at risk.
> 
>    "These are common sense, cost-effective solutions for much greater
> public safety, while at the same time preserving and restoring our river
> systems," said Stork.  "We don't need new dams as much as we need to
> upgrade and improve the aging infrastructure that's already in place.  The
> best and most environmentally responsible investment we can make is in the
> existing flood control system.  Obviously, there's plenty of room for
> improvement." he added.
> 
>    Stork, who last year led the environmental efforts to secure flood
> protection improve- ments for Sacramento without the Auburn dam, emphasized
> that California should make sure the existing systems are more reliable,
> safe and effective.  He noted that the devastating levee breaks appear to
> be a result of inattention, lack of investment, or woefully inadequate room
> for rivers to flow.
> 
>    Friends of the River is nearly 25 years old.  Based in Sacramento,
> F.O.R. is a membership organization that works on a variety of
> river-related issues throughout the state.  For more information on flood
> control or other river issues, contact Charles Casey: (916) 442-3155.
> 
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