Emergency works are underway after serious leakage was discovered on the Victoria Island embankment, just south-west of Stockton.
Officials with the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) said the damage was discovered on Oct. 21, when a leak emerged on land under the levee.
The county declared a local emergency and Reclamation District 2040 engineers provided temporary protective barriers.
A drone image as the California Department of Water Resources makes emergency repairs along the Victoria Island levee in San Joaquin County, which falls under the jurisdiction of Reclamation District 2040, on December 5, 2024, to secure the site during the remainder of the current flood season .
But because the risk of failure continues, crews estimate repairs could continue for the next four to six weeks, depending on weather conditions.
“Seepage is a known problem in the Delta and therefore monitoring and regular maintenance are critical to maintaining our flood system,” said DWR spokesperson Jason Ince.
The State-Federal Flood Operations Center dispatched flood control specialists to the site and San Joaquin County requested additional resources from the state to assist with the temporary repairs.
On November 6, the county submitted a request to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) for financial assistance through the California Disaster Assistance Act (CDAA), estimating initial damages at more than $2 million.
Ince says when such issues arise, local, regional and government agencies work closely to ensure issues are addressed quickly.
“The California Department of Water Resources is currently working on a repair that will keep the site safe for the remainder of the winter season,” Ince said.
According to the province, the dike’s failure could result in extensive damage to agricultural lands, disruptions along Highway 4 and compromised drinking water sources for the region.
The California Department of Water Resources is conducting emergency repairs to the Victoria Island levee on December 5, 2024 in San Joaquin County, which falls under the jurisdiction of Reclamation District 2040, to secure the site through the remainder of the current flood season.
Local officials say their top priority is ensuring the safety of people living nearby who could be affected in the worst-case scenario.
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The province says KSN Inc. regularly communicates with community members living behind the dike on Victoria Island and provides them with emergency protocols and updates on the progress of the dike’s restoration.
“KSN Inc. continues to work with the County of San Joaquin and the Department of Water Resources to prevent the risk of this levee breach,” said Christopher Neudeck, KSN Inc. chief engineer and incident commander. “With the support of the county declaring a local emergency, we can request additional state and federal assistance to support mitigation and technical response efforts.”
The San Joaquin County Office of Emergency Services reminds community members who live behind the levee and in surrounding areas to do their part and prepare now to protect their homes by:
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Create an emergency plan with their family and take into account the unique needs of each individual.
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Build an emergency supply kit that will last each person for 72 hours.
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Take photos of their home and property, including vehicles, boats and farm equipment.
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Moving valuables from basements and ground floods to higher levels if possible.
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Placing sandbags where water can enter their home.
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Stay informed of any updates via TV and radio
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If local authorities tell you to evacuate, you should leave immediately.
This article originally appeared in The Record: Emergency Victoria Island levee repairs underway in San Joaquin County
