Napa Valley Register- Thompson secures $1.8 million for bypass landscaping

Napa will get the flood control bypass landscaping of its dreams, complete with more vegetation to help with erosion control.

Rep. Mike Thompson announced Tuesday he has secured the $1.8 million necessary to restore the originally envisioned landscaping for the project. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had switched to a stripped-down landscaping plan to control costs.

"The Napa Flood Project is one of the fundamental pillars of job creation and economic development in our community," Thompson said in a news release. "I am proud to say that after a decade of dedication and hard work that we will have the money we need to finish the job."

It remains to be seen whether restoring the original landscaping will push out completion of the project from the June 16 target date. Army Corps spokesman Tyler Stalker said the landscaping must be planted soon enough to settle in before the next rainy season.

"We're excited that money looks like it's coming and we'll get to do that full project as promised," Stalker said on Tuesday.

Workers a year ago started excavating the flood bypass channel, now reported to cost $16.8 million, in the city of Napa between Veterans Memorial Park and the Oxbow area. The quarter-mile-long bypass is to provide an escape valve for Napa River floodwaters.

Most of the time, the bypass will be dry and open for the public to walk on its concrete paths in a park-like setting.

The restored landscaping will provide better erosion control, county Deputy Public Works Director Phillip Miller said. Plans call for native grasses and bunch grasses in the center bypass section with roots extending through a mat, he said.

"We get a better end-project," he said.

The eastern inlet side near the Oxbow area is to have turf grass. The western outlet section near Veterans Memorial Park already has vegetation planted, including plants that recently displayed yellow flowers. Trees will be on the banks out of the way of water flow.

By contrast, the Army Corps changed landscaping plans to hydro-seeded turf grass. It did so after installation of a coffer dam needed for excavation work proved more costly than expected because of soil conditions.

County and city officials lobbied the Army Corps to restore the originally planned vegetation, irrigation systems and erosion control systems. Supervisor Brad Wagenknecht credited Thompson with going above-and-beyond to secure the extra money.

Thompson called local officials and told them he was meeting with Army Corps Lt. Gen. Thomas Bostick. Wagenknecht and Miller in February went to Washington, D.C., to be part of the meeting and help make the local case.

"It's very exciting for us to see this part of it will come to fruition," Wagenknecht said.

Another option was to use local money to install the originally planned landscaping and erosion control systems. But, Wagenknecht said, the landscaping is part of the federal government's piece of the project.