RANCHO MURIETA, CA (MPG) - The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors officially ratified a Proclamation of Emergency on Feb. 4 in response to significant, uncontrolled levee erosion in Sloughhouse, according to a county news release.

The county's proclamation was issued in response to Reclamation District 800's emergency declaration on Feb. 3.

Reclamation District 800 maintains and repairs 34 miles of privately-owned levees along the Cosumnes River between Rancho Murieta and Freeman Road off Dillard Road in Wilton and Freeman Road off Grant Line Road in Sheldon.

Brian Takemori, the board president of Reclamation District 800, said the district engineer identified two areas of concern in Sloughhouse on Feb. 3.

The first eroded levee was on a ranch west of Dillard Road, south of Jackson Highway. While the board had previously designated this levee for repairs, their engineer considered it a lower priority than others, according to comments made at past board meetings.

The second location was at the end of Old Vine Road, which branches off Sloughhouse Road. Takemori said water from a broken irrigation pipe was eroding the levee. In response, Reclamation District 800 brought in Asta Construction to make a small repair at the site on Feb. 4.

Takemori said the board made the decision to declare an emergency after they met at the ranch levee on the morning of Feb. 3 and expected high water levels. Fortunately, he noted, those predictions did not materialize.

Takemori explained that when Reclamation District 800 declares an emergency, the Sacramento County Office of Emergency Services becomes involved and the Division of Flood Management at the State Department of Water Resources is also notified.

According to the county news release, an evacuation notice wasn’t needed and the threat of levee failure remains low. However, residents living near Dillard Road south of Jackson Highway should register at the Sacramento County Alert website or text "levee" to 77295.

Reclamation District 800 funds the maintenance and repair of 34 miles of privately owned levees through an assessment district that generates approximately $500,000 annually. The January 2023 storms caused levee failures at three locations and extensive erosion throughout the district. Already in debt, Reclamation District 800 increased its line of credit to finance more than $6.5 million in emergency repairs.

The district has received some federal and state help in paying for the repairs. The National Resource Conservation District reimbursed the district for 75% of the $2.5-million cost to fix two levees, and California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services funded the district's 25% share. However, FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) has yet to reimburse Reclamation District 800 for spending nearly $5 million on the other repairs. As of the Jan. 16 meeting, Reclamation District 800 owed $7 million to the Bank of Stockton.

In 2024, State Sen. Roger Niello secured a $500,000 state grant for the district but the funds are restricted to long-range planning and cannot be used for levee repairs