With a stretch of the Stanislaus River severing as its southern border, Ripon – or at least parts of it – has always had that potential threat of floods.
As a way of safe guarding for the unpredictable, the City recently hired Peterson Brustad Inc. /J.B. Anderson Land Use Planning in helping to implement the requirements of state Senate Bill 5 on the 200 year flood protection.
“This is to make sure that people will be out of harm’s way (of floods along the Stanislaus River),” said Ripon Planning Director Ken Zuidervaart.
J.B. Anderson is the local firm of John B. Anderson. Since 1984, he and his staff have provided decisive and creative assistance throughout the area on significant and essential land use development issues in a changing environment.
Based in Folsom, Peterson Brustad Inc. provides engineering consulting services as related to the water industry.
 Zuidervaart said that the purpose for the 200-year flood protection bill – SB5 was introduced in 2007 and later amended in 2012 – is to strengthen the link between flood management and land use decisions at the local level.
“We have the 100-year flood plain protection map by FEMA but not the California 200 year (flood zone map),” he added.
FEMA or the Federal Emergency Management Agency required the traditional 100 year flood plain protection while the state put into place the 200-year flood plain equipped with even higher standards.
Ripon not to mention other cities with a population of 10,000 will have to adopt the SB5 requirements while updating their General Plan by July in order to put forth plans for future residential or commercial development.
Without an adequate 200-year flood plan, Zuidervaart noted that cities like Ripon would likely fall back to the 500 year flood zone for any new construction.
Cost for Peterson Brustad Inc. / J.B Anderson to implement the requirements of SB5 for the city came up to slightly over $35,000 and will be taken from the general fund.

To contact reporter Vince Rembulat, e-mail vrembulat@mantecabulletin.com.