When it comes to flooding in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, it’s not a matter of “if,” but “when.”

The Water Education Foundation’s latest video, “Getting Prepared: Preventing Flood Contamination in the Delta” (running time 17.35) takes a look at the real threats of flooding in the Delta and what to do to minimize the damage when it happens.

Farms in the Delta are vulnerable to flooding mostly due to one single factor: levee failures. While it’s expected that levee failures may occur during stormy conditions, sometimes levees breach for no apparent reason, experts say on the video.

And for floods in the modern era, it’s not just water damage to fear. There’s the threat of a toxic soup formed by accidental mixtures of sewage, raw manure, fuel and oil, along with chemical contaminants typically used on farms. Polluted water can compromise drinking and irrigation water initially and leave behind a contaminated mess in the soil, posing a threat to future crops and livestock.

The video highlights four actions that can be undertaken to minimize damage, especially on agricultural lands:

• Keep a current inventory
• Safely store chemicals
• Dispose of waste frequently
• Recycle

In the video, local Delta farmers, Ed Zuckerman and Steve Heringer, share their flood experiences and offer practical flood preparation tips. The DVD also provides information about local and state programs, many free or low cost, that help farmers prepare, dispose of and/or recycle waste. In addition, the Foundation has developed a web page that provides an overview of what’s in the video and includes links to helpful resources.

To see the video “Getting Prepared: Preventing Flood Contamination in the Delta,” check out the Foundation’s website for free programs and publications.

The video was produced by the Water Education Foundation and 3D Media Solutions.The program was produced, in part, through a grant from the Bureau of Reclamation and the Delta Conservancy.