For more information, contact 
Abbie Granger, 209-946-0246

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 14, 2004

The Port of Stockton Aids Relief Effort for San Joaquin County Levee Restoration

Stockton, CA, June 14, 2004 – Over the course of the last week the Port of Stockton has provided several measures of relief for emergency officials seeking to prevent further damage from the June 3^rd levee break into Lower and Upper Jones Tract.  “The Port of Stockton is happy that it was able to accommodate the needs of relief agencies in the efforts to reinforce and rebuild the levees,” said Port Director Richard Aschieris. 

The following measures details ways in which the Port of Stockton has assisted in efforts to halt the flood and flood damage.

·        Provided quick, below cost, re-used dredge soil to shore up the levee along Trapper’s Slough to save Highway 4 and Roberts Island.

·        Donated 240,000 square feet of warehouse space on Rough and Ready Island as a staging area for the agencies and workers involved in the relief efforts.  The staging area includes a temporary kitchen and camp which will house up to 500 workers.  Showers, cots, tables and chairs have all been brought in, in addition to the kitchen.

 In addition to various delivery companies and assorted contractors, approximately four state agencies will be operating out of the Rough and Ready Island’s staging area.  Picture ID is required by all who enter the area in adherence to Federal maritime security measures. 

 Approximately 55,000 cubic yards of re-used dredged soil were obtained from the Port’s dredge soil sites.  The Port of Stockton dredges the material annually in its annual channel maintenance dredging.  The dredged reused soil has long been used as a means to maintain the Delta’s many levees and protect the farmland. 

 Several individuals from the state agencies have commended the Port for its critical responsiveness in this time of crisis.  Chiefly, the Department of Water Resources has commented.  “Quick access to dredge material was critical in raising Trapper Slough as quickly as we did.  Cooperation from the Port of Stockton in providing the material was phenomenal.  It’s possible more material will be needed in coming weeks to maintain the height, since we do expect some settlement,” said Rod Mayer, Chief of the Flood Projects Office at the Department of Water Resources. 

 The Port of Stockton operates with revenues from maritime and real estate operations.  The Port is the premier inland, bulk cargo port in California.  Supporting more than 4,000 family-wage jobs in the greater Stockton area, it is one of the region’s biggest economic facilitators. 

 ####