El Nino Threat Flood Mitigation Program

About the Program

Category: Risk and Emergency Management (Best in Category)

Year: 2016

The forecasts for the 2015 El Nino storm season predicted a severe threat for flooding in San Bernardino County. Flood control facilities, which include earthen flood control channels, basins and rivers, had a buildup of brush and natural habitat in excessive amounts that needed removal to prepare the facilities for the flood threat. The removals of these materials are governed by the environmental regulatory agencies and require long permit processing timeframes. The County met with representatives from all the major environmental resource agencies along with County emergency responders to discuss an innovative expedited permitting process to meet the El Nino threat. After much discussion the regulatory agencies agreed to let Public Works clean out 37 priority facilities through a special expedited permit process. The priority facilities were cleaned out and allowed adequate flows that provided protection to properties and life as expected. This type of expedited agreement was unprecedented.