Redding declares emergency in anticipation of El Niño, makes plans to clear congested drainage ditch

The Redding City Council voted last night to declare a local emergency ahead of the expected impacts of this year’s El Niño. 

El Niño is a climate pattern that disrupts normal weather conditions, leading to warmer-than-average temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean. In Northern California, El Niño is predicted to bring warmer temperatures and heavy rainfall this winter, which could lead to severe flooding. This year’s El Niño is particularly noteworthy because it has been projected to break records for its strength, leading to some calling it Super El Niño. 

The chance of increased precipitation this winter is especially alarming for many in Redding given the flooding that occurred after last year’s brief but heavy rainfall during the holidays, which caused major damage to residents’ homes and businesses. 

Several community members who continue to be impacted by the damage from last year’s flooding spoke at Tuesday night’s council meeting, urging the city to take proactive steps ahead of this winter’s storms. Some were affected by the flooding of the Henderson Ditch, a manufactured drainage ditch west of Bechelli Lane that overflowed during the December storm last year and caused severe property damage to some residents’ homes. 

One community member mentioned how council member Dr. Paul Dhanuka told him some time ago that he hoped the council could get the state to pay attention to smaller, less populated and influential counties. The commenter used that sentiment to make his point about flood preparation. 

“We represent those folks who are that small group,” the community member said, “and we are begging, we are imploring you, please treat us with the respect you ask the state to treat Shasta County.” 

Declaring an emergency, interim City Manager Michael Webb explained, allows the city to more efficiently and proactively prepare for the anticipated heavy rain by easing the processes needed to purchase equipment, work with contractors when necessary and clean storm drains. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office also issued a state of emergency last month ahead of El Niño, which Webb mentioned in his discussion of the agenda item. 

“We’re going to continue to lay out our plan to make sure we’re doing everything we can to minimize or potentially eliminate any impacts from the heavy winter anticipated,” Webb said. 

Interim City Attorney Mary Anne Wagner explained that there will be opportunities for the council to check in regularly on if the emergency declaration is still needed as time goes on. 

In an agenda item separate from the emergency declaration, the council discussed the concerns of the residents affected by the overflow of the Henderson Ditch last year, saying it plans to continue working on solutions for the long term — though hopefully in tandem with the county, council member Erin Resner added. 

Community members, who also spoke to the county board about the issue earlier this month, raised concerns Tuesday night that the ditch still hasn’t been cleared since the flooding occurred last year, leaving them vulnerable to a repeat of the incident that’s still affecting homes in the region.

Information provided in the council’s agenda packet indicates the complexity of drainage management in the Bechelli Lane area, explaining that both the city and county have “contended through the years” that the Henderson Ditch is private property and therefore public entities have no maintenance responsibilities. 

Nevertheless, the city said it plans to contract CAL FIRE to clean the Henderson Ditch starting next week in preparation for winter rains. It’s something that may be a consideration periodically in the future to ensure the ditch doesn’t overflow again, staff said. 

Resner asked community members at the meeting to continue putting pressure on the county to help with the issue because “it will take everyone working together to find a long-term solution,” she said. 

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