DWR Announces Jones Tract Levee Break Filled.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced today that the June 3, 2004, Middle River levee breach at Upper Jones Tract has been closed.

Working around the clock since June 5, 2004, The Dutra Group of San Rafael closed off the flow of water through the approximately 300 foot wide break at around 7:30 this morning. Dutra spokesman Harry Stewart said "we won't consider the break officially and completely closed until we've gone through a couple of tidal cycles to allow some of the water to run off the island."

During low tide periods, a plug will be removed from the fill material, letting water escape from the 12,000 acre island. During high tides, the plug will be reinstalled.

Stewart estimated the tidal cycle runoff could be completed as early as Friday or Saturday and as late as sometime next week. Stewart also estimated the amount of rock placed in the breach will total between 200,000 tons and 215,000 tons.

Filling the levee breach was accomplished 20 days ahead of schedule. Stewart said the work went much faster than it would have during winter months "when crews would have been battling storm and possible flood conditions."

Ford Construction Company, Inc., of Lodi has been awarded a $3,853,000 DWR contract to dewater Upper and Lower Jones Tracts. Pumping is expected to begin around July 7, 2004, and be completed by October 15, 2004.