Natomas Levee Improvement Program - SAFCA

design consultant’s opinion of the probable cost of the reconstruction work based on a 60
percent design plus a 25 percent contingency.
Excluding contingencies, the USACE estimate for this reconstruction work is about twice
as a high as SAFCA’s estimate. This difference is magnified by USACE’s inclusion of a
49 percent contingency on its estimate.
3.4.4 Lands & Damages
A relatively small amount of agricultural and rural residential land is needed to
accommodate the 200-year project footprint in Reach D. SAFCA’s estimate of the cost of
this land reflects actual costs incurred through the land acquisition process and includes a
5 percent contingency.
SAFCA’s estimate also includes costs for lands and damages administration that
represent about 21 percent of the value of the mitigation and project footprint land
acquired. This cost reflects actual administrative costs incurred to date and includes a 5
percent contingency.
Exclusive of contingencies, the USACE estimate for lands and damages including
administration is smaller than SAFCA’s estimate. However, the USACE estimate
includes a much larger contingency, thus making the USACE estimate higher than
SAFCA’s.
3.4.5 Relocations
SAFCA’s estimate includes costs for relocating the Vestal Drainage Canal, the Odysseus
Irrigation Canal; and installing a closure structure on the State Route 99 overcrossing of
the NCC. Most of this work will be carried out as part of the USACE project. The
estimate is based on design consultant estimates and includes a 25 percent contingency.
The USACE estimate for relocations in Reach D is approximately four times higher than
SAFCA’s estimate. The basis for this difference is unclear.
3.4.6 Planning Design and Engineering
SAFCA’s estimate for planning, engineering and design costs in Reach D is based
primarily on costs incurred through 2010 plus an allowance for engineering and design of
the uncompleted elements of the project in this reach. This estimate includes a 10 percent
contingency and the total planning, design, and engineering costs for reach D represents
about 15 percent of total construction and relocation costs in this reach. The USACE
estimate for these activities is comparable to SAFCA’s.
3.4.7 Cultural Resources
SAFCA’s estimate of cultural resources costs for this reach covers monitoring and
resource recovery activities. The estimate reflects actual costs incurred through the 2010
construction season and represents about 2.1 percent of total construction and relocation
costs in this reach.
The USACE estimate contains only a total cost for cultural resources that is not broken
out by reach.
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