Ryer Island has not flooded since the levees
were improved to their current standard, after 1910.
Historical records indicate Ryer Island did flood in 1904 and
 1907,
BEFORE the current levee was built. Yet the
Delta Risk Management Strategy,
Phase 1 report, or DRMS, a VERY important document currently
being used to make decisions regarding the future of the Delta,
lists Ryer Island as being inundated "3-5" times in the last 100
years. Ryer Island has flooded ZERO times in the last 100
years. This is an important number because calculations
regarding levee failure risk, seismic risk, levee and island
salvageability and land valuation all take into consideration flood
risk factors. Click on thumbnail to compare DRMS inundation
map to correct historical map.
DRMS was published in
"final" form by California's Department of Water Resources (DWR) to
validate decisions regarding the future of the Delta, but the
underlying historical data regarding Ryer Island is clearly
wrong as to inundation history, including data provided in
Sections 2,4,7,9,12,13 and other reference documents. . DRMSf1_wrong_on_Ryer.pdf
or see List of DRMS
mistakes.
DRMS has been used for the decision process leading up to and
including the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP). As of
October 2009 DWR representatives had acknowledged the use of
incorrect data regarding Ryer Island and had agreed to notify the
consultant companies who drafted the report (URS and Benjamin &
Associates) of the mistake, so that corrections could be expidited.
In October 2009, after repeated requests for review and correction,
DWR representatives
confirmed the incorrect data use regarding Ryer Island, and
agreed to contact their consultants who did the report, to get it
corrected. However, on 11-18-09 DWR responded again by email,
indicating there isn't sufficient funding to correct DRMS Phase 1,
so a request has been made to remove the entire DRMS Phase 1
report from any new DWR reports, such as the California
Water Plan Update 2009.
See Request
Click on the thumbnail below to see copy of email
One possible but not likely
explanation...there are TWO "Ryer Islands" in Solano County! Ryer Island (aka Long
Point Island) in the Suisun Bay is well within the 100 year flood
zone and has a history of flooding. Its basically an
unoccupied island. Ryer Island, bordered by Steamboat and
Cache Sloughs, is an occupied island and has NOT flooded since the
levees were improved after the 1907 flood. However, Department
of Water Resources (DWR) reports, such as DRMS and the "Risks and
Options to Reduce Risks to Fishery and Water Supply Uses of the
Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta" (DWR & DFG, 2008) use incorrect
flood history for Ryer Island. The underlying data for island
inundation is in turn used to make assessments regarding individual
island seismic risk, flood probability, and can affect valuation.
Therefore, using correct island date is imperative for these
calculations.
Click on the links provided on this page for some pdf's showing
sections of the noted reports. You can also see maps and
documents regarding Ryer Island at the Maps
& Docs page.
Click on the maps or photos below of
Ryer-Long Point Island. Then look at the map for Ryer Island
by Steamboat Slough. Not in the 100 year flood plain!
This may be one reason why DWR reports, like DRMS, are providing
INCORRECT data regarding Ryer Island inundation (flood) history.
Using a higher number of flood incidents negatively affects the
outcome of reports regarding Ryer, including seismic risk, flood
risk, and the "save or don't save" assessments by proponents of the
BDCP. In 2008 DWR representatives were notified of the
conflict in names and incorrect data being used. |
Last
Modified :11/25/09 10:28 AM
