1. A look at the Napa River- Napa Creek Flood Protection Project For The North Bay Watershed Association September 2008

2. Napa River Watershed 450 square miles River runs 55 miles from Calistoga to San Pablo Bay Lower 17 miles of River an estuary – 6 of these miles involved in the Project

3. Wetlands Butler Bridge to Imola

4. Tannery, Riverside Drive and Downtown section

5. Oxbow and north to Trancas

6. Why is the Napa Project needed? 22 serious floods on the Napa River since 1862

7. Brown Street, Napa - 1805

8. Main Street, Napa - 1940

9. Flood Control Act of 1965 authorizes a Napa River Project Designs are standard COE issue: Deepen channel with dredging Straighten channel – eliminate Oxbow Rip rap banks of a trapezoidal channel Levees and flood walls Proposals go to the voters in 1976 and 1977 – both are rejected

10. Water Street, Napa - 1986

11. Third & Main- 1986

12. 1986

13. The ’86 flood was an attention getter…

14. The Community Response to the 1986 Flood

15. Widening and deepening the river would lead to: Excess siltation Decrease in oxygen Loss of wetland habitat Loss of steelhead rearing habitat Leaving existing bridges would mean deepening river instead of raising bridges Leaving contaminants in place isolated with sheet pile walls would mean continued pollution of the river Resource Agency issues:

16. A community coalition comes together 40 agencies, 400 people: Chamber of Commerce, Sierra Club, Friends of the River, NV Economic Development Corp., Farm Bureau, Land Trust, Conference and Visitors Bureau… A new “living river” design is created March 3, 1998: 27,000+ votes cast, Measure A passes by 308 votes.

18. Project groundbreaking July 31, 2000

19. Achieving a Living River  Maintain the natural slope, width, and width/depth ratio of the river  Maintain or restore the connection of the river to its flood plain  Allow the river to meander as much as possible  Maintain channel features such as mudflats, shallows, sandbars, and a naturally uneven bottom  Maintain a continuous fish and riparian corridor along the river

20. A wider, geomorphic channel design to improve fish habitat, water quality and minimize sedimentationgeomorphic channel Restoration on the east side of river, cleanup of toxic siteseast side The Living River Design Wet-Dry Bypass and Bridges BypassBridges Marshplain terrace Setback Floodwall Creation of south wetlandswetlands

21. Project Components Improvements to 6 miles of the Napa River and 1 mile of Napa Creek Removal of 53 mobile homes, 16 other residences and 28 commercial buildings Creation of 400+ acres of emergent marsh and 150 acres of seasonal wetlands Replacement of 9 bridges Project results in protection for 3,000 properties from the “100-year flood event”, translating into $1 billion savings over the life of the Project.

22. Beginning in the summer of 2000, some 659 acres of farmed seasonal wetland and farmed upland began conversion to: 373 acres of emergent marsh 136 acres of non-farmed seasonal wetland 16 acres of open water/tidal mudflat 124 acres of high value woodland

23. 1998…levees block the tidal action 2002…wetlands reborn NY Times photo

24. The South Wetlands Opportunity Area (SWOA)

25. Before After South Wetlands Opportunity Area

26. The transformation from pasture land to wetland is gradual…

28. Each spring the SWOA features more blooms as the habitat develops…

29. Common Birds found in the SWOA In the mudflats: Black-necked StiltAmerican AvocetLong-billed Curlew Spotted SandpiperGreat Egret Snowy EgretGreen-backed Heron

30. Black-necked stilts

31. Great egret

32. Green-backed heron

33. Common Birds in SWOA In open water: American PelicanWestern GrebeMallard CormorantCanada GooseNorthern Shoveler

34. Canada goose

35. In the tules: Red-winged BlackbirdVirginia Rail Common YellowthroatMarsh Wren Common Birds in the SWOA

36. Hunters in the SWOA Peregrine Falcon

37. Southern portion of Flood Project area South Wetlands Opportunity Area Railroad realignment Maxwell Bridge replacement TERRACED

38. Terracing underway on NV College and Kennedy Park lands August 2003

39. Contract1B October 2003

40. Aerial Overview March 2003

41. Gasser soil placement October 2003

42. East bank site in need of cleanup, Sept. 2001 Created Marsh and Flood Plain - 2003

43. Sandbar Under Third Street

44. Created Marsh Plain May 2008 – High Tide

45. Created Marsh Plain May 2008 – Low Tide

46. East bank site in need of cleanup, Sept. 2001

47. HTRW Demolition BeforeAfter

48. Same site from ground level, June 2002

49. Removal of contaminated soil, water treatment underway September 2002

50. HTRW Phase 2 November 3, 2003

51. Award-winning Third Street Bridge Sets the tone for aesthetics of public space

52. Soscol Bridge over future bypass

53. First St. Bridge over Napa Creek and Oxbow Commons

54. Maxwell Bridge

55. Upcoming work – Terracing 2004 Floodwalls Hatt to First St 2005

56. Hatt to First floodwall July 20, 2006

57. Hatt to First floodwall August 3, 2007

58. Hatt to First floodwall- Veterans Park portion May 19, 2008

59. Hatt to First floodwall- Veterans Park portion April 2008

60. Railroad relocation phase 3 2008-2010 First St. Bridge replacement 2008-2009 Hotel site Bypass Hotel site Bypass 2010-2012 Napa Creek 2010-2012 Oxbow Preserve 2008

61. Riverside projects booming – Napa Mill restored

62. Copia

63. Oxbow Public Market – recently opened There are now 20 tasting rooms/wine bars in Downtown Napa

64. Westin Verasa Hotel – opening September 18, 2008

65. The Riverfront mixed use project

66. Ritz-Carlton Napa Valley – starts 2009

67. Community remains at risk until Project completion, as seen on December 31, 2005

68. When the project is complete … 100-year flood protection Environmental restoration Enhanced economic activity

69. Questions?