Flood-control work a credit to progress
More than a decade after Ross Valley voters decided to tax themselves to improve safety from flooding, there has been little visible work or change.
There’s been painfully slow progress; it seemed that money was being spent on numerous and voluminous studies rather than real improvements. As has been recent history, more energy was devoted to political battles than advancing possible solutions to construction.
That has changed this summer with construction now underway on removing commercial buildings that hindered the safe flow of stormwater in San Anselmo Creek and turning old nursery growing grounds in the upper Ross Valley into an emergency detention basin.
These moves may not be the ultimate in flood protection for the Ross Valley, through Fairfax and San Anselmo, but they are the best possible solutions on which community consensus could be reached.
Those two large projects and the replacement of lowhanging bridges across San Anselmo Creek could help reduce the real threat of stormwater overflowing the creekbands and flooding downtown San Anselmo and nearby neighborhoods.
The much-debated tax was approved by voters in 2007. The 20-year tax has risen to an average of $149.28 per year due to a string of increases needed to keep the flood control work on track.
Credit should go to the leadership of Supervisor Katie Rice for keeping the work moving forward, despite some political setbacks that could have easily derailed this life- and property-saving effort. Dedicated staffers and citizen volunteers who have worked to move these projects forward also should take pride in the work that has started.
The recent start of construction of a 33-acre basin on the old growing grounds northwest of Fairfax will be open in times of flood emergencies to hold water and reduce the threat downstream.
As Hugh Davis, a county engineer, put it, it is “like a piece of the puzzle” in providing greater safety from flooding for low-lying areas of San Anselmo and Fairfax that have
Thesemovesmay notbetheultimate in floodprotection for theRossValley, through Fairfax and SanAnselmo, but they are thebest possible solutionson whichcommunity consensus couldbe reached.
already endured destructive flooding and some close calls in recent years.
It was the 2005 New Year’s Eve flood and the nearly $100 million in damage it caused to private and public property in Fairfax, San Anselmo and Ross that fueled renewed efforts to provide greater safety.
That work, despite its political bumps along the way, is finally reaching fruition.
No one predicted it would have taken this long. It’s far from complete, but the projects under construction are key improvements. The estimated cost is $19.3 million.
In addition to the detention basin, work on removing a downtown San Anselmo building and other impediments along the creek began in May. The work will also include some safety measures for creekside homes in Ross.
Planning work continues to move forward for the floodprone stretch between Ross and Larkspur.
Talks, studies and political battles have taken their toll on the time and cost it has taken to start this important public safety work. Taxpayers have understandably questioned delays in work that had been promised. What had they gotten for their tax dollars?
They are now seeing it under construction. Diligent progress is still critical. Flooding remains a real risk. Completion of this work and constructive progress on the next phase — improvements along the lower Ross Valley — promise to afford greater safety for the entire valley.