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The City of Vacaville in Northern California is taking new steps to protect residents from flooding caused by record-breaking rainfall. The city is installing metal gates on underground storm drain pipes to prevent water from flowing backward into neighborhoods. They also have stormwater detention basins to divert excess runoff and are considering adding additional storage basins.
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VACAVILLE – New efforts are underway to help protect communities from the kinds of record-breaking rainfall we saw in Northern California last winter.
We’re getting answers on what the City of Vacaville is doing to protect people who live in flood-prone areas.
Vacaville’s Tulare Drive looked more like a lake last January, with the strong winter storms causing significant street flooding.
“The water in the middle of the street is 3 or 4 feet deep,” said Neil Wakabayashi, a Vacaville homeowner.
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Some people stacked sandbags around homes to help hold water back. It’s not the first time this neighborhood has seen flooding from nearby Alamo Creek.
“In 2005, we were here when it did flood, and about 5 inches got in our house,” said Michelle Welty, a Vacaville homeowner.
“We had about 6 inches of water in the garage,” said Wakabayashi.
Last year’s series of atmospheric rivers dumped four inches of rain in Vacaville in just one week.
“That’s what bust the bubble, and it creates a condition where there’s nowhere else for the water to go,” Vacaville Public Works Director Brian McLean.
McLean says there was so much runoff in Alamo Creek that water actually started flowing backward through the underground storm drain pipes and up into the neighborhoods.
“That’s a reverse flow, the creek water ends up escaping and going out into the street,” said McLean.
Now the city is taking new steps to try to stop that type of flooding in the future by installing new metal gates on the pipes to prevent flows from going in the wrong direction.
“Ultimately what we’re trying to do is keep the water in the creek,” said McLean.
The city also has a series of stormwater detention basins to help divert excess runoff.
“It’s approximately 20 feet at its deepest area,” said McLean.
One basin can hold nearly five million gallons of water and was modified this year to start diverting water sooner. Engineers are also looking at adding additional storage basins – and making the existing ones deeper – all in an effort to protect homes from another flood.
“Something needed to be done and it’s really nice to know that the city’s taking care of that,” said Welty.
Crews in Vacaville have also been working the last few months clearing debris out of creeks while water is still low and fixing erosion along the creek banks.”
Efforts are underway in Vacaville, Northern California, to protect communities from the devastating effects of heavy rainfall and flooding. Last winter, the area experienced record-breaking rainfall, causing significant street flooding and damage to homes.
Residents in flood-prone areas, such as Tulare Drive, have been particularly affected. In January, the street resembled a lake, with water levels reaching 3 to 4 feet. Some homeowners resorted to stacking sandbags around their properties to mitigate the flooding. However, this was not enough to prevent water from entering their homes, as seen in previous flooding incidents in 2005.
Last year’s intense atmospheric rivers resulted in four inches of rain in just one week, overwhelming the local infrastructure. Vacaville’s Public Works Director, Brian McLean, explained that the excessive runoff in Alamo Creek caused water to flow backward through underground storm drain pipes and into neighborhoods.
To prevent similar flooding in the future, the city is implementing new measures. Metal gates are being installed on the pipes to prevent reverse flows, ensuring that water remains in the creek. Vacaville also has stormwater detention basins in place to divert excess runoff. These basins can hold up to five million gallons of water and have been modified to start diverting water earlier.
Engineers are also considering adding more storage basins and deepening existing ones to provide better protection against floods. These proactive steps aim to safeguard homes and communities from the devastating consequences of heavy rainfall and flooding.
Residents are relieved that the city is taking action to address the issue. Additionally, crews have been working diligently to clear debris from creeks and repair erosion along creek banks. These efforts are essential in preparing for future rainfall events and minimizing the impact on residents’ lives and properties.
By implementing these measures, Vacaville is demonstrating its commitment to protecting its communities and ensuring their safety during extreme weather events..
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cbssacramento said Vacaville taking new steps to protect residents in flood-prone areas
