Flooding expected for the winter months due to wildfires

REDDING,Calif —

While the threat of wildfires diminishes, flooding and mudslides still pose a very serious threat for the upcoming winter months.

Clint Snyder, Assistant Executive Director of the Central Valley Water Control Board spoke with KRCR about the dangers of flooding and what people can expect to see as more rain begins to fall.

“It’s going to be a winter that Redding has never seen before, French Gulch has never seen before, like the communities in the Hirz and Delta fires have never seen before. The fires have been put out or suppressed but the danger is far from over," said Snyder.

The Water Control Board did numerous studies on the burn severity of the wildfires and how the fires would affect the winter months. Among the findings, Snyder said peak flow is expected to be 130 percent of normal.

"We look at the amount of precipitation, we look at steepness of slopes, we look at soil types. We are looking at some significant damages that we are going to see this winter," said Snyder. "From my perspective, the public needs to start to prepare now."

Part of the necessary preparation is the placing of I-Beams in the Gully’s along Highway 299 near Old Shasta. The plan is to block major debris from blocking the pipeline which would lead to road flooding.

“Have drinking water on site and stored, they need to make sure they have an exit routes. We are very likely to see culverts being plugged, we are likely to see roads being topped and even cut out," said Snyder.

The state water board has received $2.3 million in state grant money and is requesting $6.4 million in federal funds to fast track erosion control of five key creeks near Keswick Dam on the Sacramento River.

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