http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/15786259.htm

SACRAMENTO – State and federal officials have identified at least 71 more damaged levee sections throughout the Central Valley that could fail this winter, and in an unusual step they plan to undertake repairs lasting well into the worst of the rainy season.

Levee experts normally seek to complete repairs by Nov. 1, the official start of flood season, because working in winter adds risks and complications. Swelling rivers can put repair areas under water, and saturated levees may become unstable under heavy truck traffic.

But the 71 new sites have the potential to fail without attention, so repairs are considered urgent. Many protect populated areas, including Clarksburg, Isleton, Plumas Lake and Chico. Others protect vital roads and utilities.

”From a construction standpoint, it s going to be extremely challenging,” said Mike Inamine, chief of levee repairs at the California Department of Water Resources. ”In the event that we can t get to all of these sites, we re making provisions with the Army Corps and our own forces to get ready to fight floods at these critical sites.”

Adding to the challenges, an El Niño weather pattern is in place this winter.”

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