Flood Officials Prepare for San Joaquin Flood Fight This Weekend.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- State and federal flood agencies, working with local reservoir operators and flood officials, have developed an action plan for expected San Joaquin Valley high water conditions this weekend.

"Based on a long history of flood fights and responses to past events, the partners in this flood fight effort are taking a proactive stance, rather than waiting for potential failures to direct a flood fight," said Department of Water Resources (DWR) Deputy Director Les Harder. "DWR and its partners have agreed on advanced measures to strengthen spots that they believe could present significant problems."

Heavy precipitation - combined with a full snowpack - necessitates releasing reservoir water at rates near the maximum capacity of channel and levee systems. Significant releases from San Joaquin River basin reservoirs are expected to create high flows that will push rivers to near or above flood levels. Such conditions in the San Joaquin River and its tributaries can potentially cause damage to the existing levee system.

DWR and its partners began discussing this initiative as extensive local flooding was beginning to interfere with the ability to mobilize people and material. The intent is to take advanced measures to reduce flood damage and potential loss of life before the ability to wage an effective fight is further challenged.

As part of these advanced measures, DWR has assembled and activated three Incident Command Teams (ICT) and is organizing three more to provide coverage throughout the San Joaquin Valley. Flood fight materials have been pre-positioned and California Conservation Corps (CCC) crews dispatched to assist the ICTs in the flood fight efforts. The ICTs will have assignments and locations developed through consultations with our local partners and will be deployed as needed.

Information on weather and flood conditions is available through DWR's Flood Operations Center at [phone]. A media briefing will be held at 5:00 p.m. today to review current flood status, actions and conditions. The briefing will be at the Joint Operations Center, 3310 El Camino Avenue, Sacramento.

Additional emergency preparedness information is available on Governor's Office of Emergency Services website: http://www.oes.ca.gov

The Department of Water Resources operates and maintains the State Water Project, provides dam safety and flood control and inspection services, assists local water districts in water management and water conservation planning, and plans for future statewide water needs.