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Letters to the Editor I was 11 years old at the time of the December 1955 flood and have some very vivid memories of those days. I remember being at home one evening in after many days of rain. My father, Jack Chrisman, a Visalia city councilman at the time, was downtown at city hall sand bagging the buildings in anticipation of extensive flooding. My brother and I were watching TV and our dog started to bark. I went to the front door and found water coming under the front door. I looked out the window of my father's den and saw water everywhere. Thus began many days of dealing with 2 feet of water in our house, spending Christmas at my Uncle and Aunt's home, and riding my bicycle all over town in 2 to 3 feet of water. My father used to say that it was this experience that generated his interest in water resources leading to the creation of the Terminus /Success Flood Control Dams Association, of which he was president, and the construction of flood control dams on the Kaweah and Tule rivers, followed by his appointment to the California Water Commission by then Gov. Pat Brown in 1959. Mike Chrsman California Resources Secretary I read with interest your article in the November /December 2005 Western Water. I also find it interesting that there is a growing view that equates California's flood risk, with Sacramento's flood risk, or even the Delta. It is an interesting phenomenon that is perhaps just a geographical reference since Sacramento is the state capital. A fair reading of the article does address the issue of water supply and levee issues in the Delta, which is true because the SWP and CVP have critical facilities in the Delta that affect a large part of California. However, a fair reading of the article also addresses flooding and levees as a flood control facility. And as such, California's flooding problem is apparently Sacramento's problem. While I will acknowledge that the [Delta] levees are important, it is unfortunate that the Foundation missed the fact that there are a number of levee systems in the state that are important. Santa Cruz and Monterey have the Pajaro River levees that were the source of a lawsuit in the '90s, San Luis Obispo County has issues as well, leading to relinquishment to the state, and there are levee systems in most every other county. Our levee in Santa Barbara County protects a significant portion of the city of Santa Maria as well as thousands of acres of prime farmland. The levee was a federal project built by the Corps. That levee is in California, too. My hope is that the Foundation could perhaps have broader views as well. As one of you worthy missions; informing California about California flooding issues, I would hope in the future that the rest of state be included in your discussions (what an educational opportunity). Sacramento is in California, for sure, but this is a big state. Tom Fayram Deputy County Public Works Director Santa Barbara County Editor's note: We realize the issue of flood control is of statewide importance and highly relevant to specific regions, such as the ones you mentioned. We by no means claim that the issues of Sacramento and the Delta are exclusively important and take precedent to other areas. However, we felt it was important to stress the importance of Delta levees given their role in protecting the water supply for more than 20 million people. While editorial limits forced us to narrow the focus of article, we recognize the enormous resources invested in flood management throughout the entire West. And we plan to present a wider encompassing view of flood management in the future. Great story. Yes, I believe you are correct in saying "we seem to lack the will." But I think we have forgotten history also. The great flood of 1862 created a lake from Red Bluff to Bakersfield. That is just a little over 100 years ago. And the Sutter Basin almost got it in the 1955 flood. I remember driving through that area a week after the levee break seeing the dead animals and the houses in Yuba City piled on top of each other. Think of all the development in the Natomas area now. I think Sacramento poses a much greater life and material damage threat than the Gulf events as a result of a levee failure. And I sure don't think that the 100- and 200 -year protec- tion is anywhere near adequate. As to the Delta levees, Gary says failures are "likely" and I say they are inevitable. Keep up the good work. Joseph E. Patten JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2006 February e ArVff&ffi—aA7orId Water Forum Rita Schmidt Sudman, speaker Los Angeles, CA Water Education Foundation Open House "A Valentine for our Supporters" Sacramento CA f LtF,,ebruary 251 oneerence Sue McClurg, speaker Brian Brown, Project WET Workshop Fresno, CA on Foundation U.S. - Mexican Border Water Issues Tour Judy Maben, tour coordinator Yuma, AZ ation of Bilingual Educators Conference Water Education Foundation exhibit San Jose, CA a i ornia Public Utilities Commission Administrative Law Judges Rita Schmidt Sudman, speaker San Francisco, CA Water Education Foundation Board of Directors Meeting Mike Armstrong, president Sacramento, CA March 2 K ati undation Executive Briefing Rita Schmidt Sudman, coordinator Sacramento, CA