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The Central Valley Flood Protection Board will consider whether to approve a new cross-levee fence at its Thursday meeting, a proposal some residents say threatens Sacramento’s vision for a mixed-use trail.
Read more Sacramento residents urge flood board to reject proposed Pocket levee fence
The project is on the left bank of the Sacramento River in the northwest corner of the Pocket neighborhood. Requested by Leo Dy-Ragos and Julie Pham, it is one in a series of cross-levee fences that have stirred controversy in Sacramento.
Some residents argue the levee belongs to riverside property owners, while others say levee encroachments conflict with plans for the Sacramento River Parkway.
The proposed 17-mile, multiuse trail would run south along the Sacramento River from its confluence with the American River to the community of Freeport. The parkway was first envisioned in a 1975 master plan.
“I’m concerned that you know if there’s another fence approval, that this will just delay (the parkway) even farther,” said Pocket resident Connie Wright.
The flood board approved staff’s recommendation to allow two cross-levee fences during its last meeting in June, finding they would not interfere with flood control.
Before the meeting, the city of Sacramento submitted a letter opposing the permits, arguing the fences would interfere with the planned shared-use trail and block public access.
To address the city’s concerns, board staff developed two special conditions. First, the permit recipient must acknowledge the fence may interfere with future plans and remove it upon the board’s notice. Second, if property rights change from private to public in a way that affects the project, the board may revoke or modify the permit.
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Despite these special conditions, some supporters of the Sacramento River Parkway said they remained disappointed.
“They’ve been doing this for years,” said Wright. “The city keeps saying that they’re going to put an end to it and it doesn’t seem to happen.”
Wright said the fences make it difficult to use the levee because they force pedestrians to leave the levee or turn around when they reach a fence.
Pocket resident Richard Markuson, who has been active in the fence debate, echoed her concerns.
“I used to ride my bike to work and would have to get down off of the levee… in order to get around the gates, so it has been a source of frustration to me … that the city has not been able to complete the plan for the parkway,” he said.
Staff again recommended approving the encroachment permit for the new fence. Residents may provide public comment at the meeting or submit written comments beforehand to Board Clerk Jonah Knapp at [email protected].
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