Scotts Valley >> In an attempt to prevent future flooding, the Scotts Valley Advisory Council is looking to install a pump for the levee.
The Scotts Valley community suffered during winter flooding. Some residents were unable to leave their homes because water covered the roads.
In the aftermath of the flood, those affected asked the Advisory Council to look into ways damage could be prevented in the future.
Scotts Valley has a little over $100,000 in funds accumulated from property taxes.
According to Lyle Swartz of the Public Works Department in Lake County, that amount should cover the cost of purchasing and placing a pump at one end of the levee. He pointed out, however, that it would take at least a year to have everything processed.
Still, he explained, a concrete pumping station with two 480 pumps and a diesel power should stop the overflow.
“When Scotts Creek comes up, all it does is back feed and you can’t get any water out of the valley,” Swartz said. “With the two 480 pumps, I’m almost positive it’ll keep it down 100 percent as long as the creek doesn’t overtop.”
Swartz added that there will also be potential money coming in from the state from the recent gas tax that could help fund the county in doing more projects. Scotts Valley is also looking into applying for grant funds for the project.
District 4 Supervisor Tina Scott who oversees the Advisory Council, said because of the disaster earlier this year, the county is also seeking money from the state to cover some of the repairs made necessary by the flood.
“I don’t know how much money it’s going to be or how much Scotts Valley is going to see of that,” Scott said. “We may also have a project coming down the way to do some cleanup in the county.”
Cleanup work is aimed at clearing debris left in creeks and reducing any flow obstacles.
Rhonda Armstrong, Chair of the Advisory Council said it would be good to get started on this project sooner rather than later.
“This is good news. We have some money coming and hopefully some of it does come our way a little bit. We’ve been in a slump for a while,” Armstrong said.
Scott said she would be checking in with the Public Works Director to see if this is something that can be looked into and get the process started for the people of Scotts Valley.
