Chris Neudeck, Vice President of Kjeldsen, Sinnock & Neudeck (KSN) gave a great presentation at our April 16th dinner meeting. Chris discussed current events in the San Joaquin Delta including the effects of SB 5 200-year flood protection regulations, the enforcement authority of the Central Valley Flood Protection Board (SB 753), and current drought planning and impacts for local water quality and levels.

SB 5 would substantially limit residential, commercial, and industrial development after July 2016 unless a community meets California’s Urban Level of Flood Protection (protection against 200-year flood events) or is making adequate progress toward meeting that protection. Chris discussed potential impacts on communities and compared Sacramento, which is making adequate progress, to Stockton, which would have extreme difficulties meeting the requirements.

On SB 753, which allows for substantial fines for non-compliant levee encroachment violations, Chris described the difficult situation for owners that previously followed the rules, valid at that time, and had obtained permits for their encroachments. The Central Valley Flood Protection Board can impose administrative penalties up to $50,000 for a single violation, which can be more that civil penalties imposed by a court.

Chris described the salinity impacts to the Delta resulting from the current drought and proposed emergency dams to be built across three channels in the Delta. He also discussed statewide reservoir conditions, and compared storage levels of Los Angeles-area reservoirs with those in the rest of the state.

Chris was a very engaging speaker and had plenty to say. The audience wanted more, with many staying well past the end of his talk.