Flood Mitigation

By Ted W. Freeman

Flood protection is a personal as well as a Town issue for me as I live directly on the creek.

I have been involved in the Town's anti-flood efforts in the following ways. I have served throughout my term on the San Anselmo Flood Committee, which is made up primarily of engineers with relevant specialties. This committee has studied the situation, taken public testimony and fed ideas to the Marin County District 9 Advisory Committee. I have also served throughout my term on the District 9 Committee, representing San Anselmo.

There is a recognition that flooding is not just a San Anselmo problem, but one that affects many towns and areas of the county and thus must be dealt with by those towns and areas in cooperation with each other and with the County. The County has spent considerable time and effort mapping the creek area and thinking of ways to mitigate the effect of future floods. Since the 2005 flood a flood gauge has been installed in the creek downtown to measure the level of the creek precisely as it rises, and a more effective warning system has been put in place. The carrying out of much of the effort has, of course, been hamstrung by the suit against the special fee that was designed to provide funds for anti-flood efforts.