Dr. Ami Bera, U.S. Representative for California’s 6th congressional district, has earned a reputation as a dedicated advocate for his constituents’ safety, particularly when it comes to protecting the Sacramento area from the looming threat of flooding. With more USACE levee improvement projects set to kick off in 2025, Bera recently visited a handful of those sites along the Lower American River. Bera wanted to get a first-hand look at USACE efforts to fortify the region’s levee systems and gain a better understanding of why more work is still necessary to reduce the risk of devastating floods. … The effects of a levee failure would reach beyond just the neighboring homes. “Should the levee fail in this area during a high-water event, water would not just flood this area, but it would continue flowing south and west and could inundate areas as far away as the Pocket [neighborhood] with up to 8 feet of water,” said William Polk, senior project manager for the Lower American River erosion protection projects.