The focus of the Sutter Basin Feasibility Study is to recommend a plan for flood damage reduction, ecosystem restoration, and recreation for the communities of Yuba City, Live Oak, Gridley and Biggs. The study area is located within the boundaries of the Sacramento River Flood Control Project in Sutter County and includes the Sacramento, Feather and Bear Rivers as well as the Sutter and Tisdale Bypasses.
Results from levee evaluation studies on the Sacramento Urban Area, Marysville/Yuba City, Mid-Valley, Lower and Upper Sacramento Area levee reconstruction projects indicate that structural problems caused by on-going seepage exist. The Corps of Engineers is addressing levee reconstruction under these projects.
The Sutter Basin is bounded by the Feather River to the east and the Sacramento River to the west. The Sutter Bypass – Feather River sub-basin is bounded by the Sutter Bypass and Sutter Buttes to the west, and the Feather River to the east, and extends north along the Feather River to the Thermalito Afterbay. The levee districts within the sub-basin are Sutter County Levee District 1 and Sutter County Levee District 9. The study area is located in the 2nd Congressional District.
The Feasibility Cost Sharing Agreement was signed in March 2000. The non-Federal sponsors are State of California, Central Valley Flood Protection Board and the Sutter-Butte Flood Control Agency. Sutter County is the local sponsor with an agreement with the State of California. The current estimated cost for the complete Feasibility Study is $8.556 million. The original anticipated duration for the project was approximately 30 months.
This investigation is being conducted under the authority provided by the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 1999. The project was originally authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1962 (Public Law 87-874).