The Race to Raise the Prado Dam

The raising of Prado Dam in San Bernardino County stands as the last major piece of the puzzle yet to be put in place for the long-awaited Santa Ana Flood Control Project. The project is a $1.3-billion effort to protect Orange County homes from major flooding. Federal officials describe the flood plain in the Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley area as potentially the most vulnerable west of the Mississippi.

Last month, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers agreed to pay an additional $100 million of the cost of raising the walls of the dam and, by doing so, of lowering the flood risk. Insurance costs also would be on the way down if the walls go up. The effort would mean that tens of thousands of homeowners living in the Santa Ana flood plain would not be required to continue purchasing costly flood insurance. The improvements would include raising the height of the spillway, which would provide overflow for flood waters.

When heavy rains come, everyone in Orange County can see the torrent flowing down the riverbed. This project has been under discussion for years. The talk of a 100-year flood may seem abstract, but officials say the river is overdue. A great flood could cost an estimated $15 billion in damages and could result in the deaths of 3,000 people.

All of this means money, even in dry years, for homeowners who are currently required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to have flood insurance. The determination is made on predictions of flood risk. This insurance requirement can be eliminated if the county can be more assured of protecting against a 100-year flood.

It is time to get this project done. The money now appears to be lined up so that the state and local portions of payment for the dam raising would be about half, with the rest picked up by the federal government.

The recent funding decision by the corps demonstrates the importance of the project and the recognition that protection is needed.

The latest development gives reason for optimism that the entire project can be completed within the next eight to 10 years.

This obviously is a continuing race against the odds and the clock. It is a race that must be won.