Delta Coves, Bethel Island

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Flutterby

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Joined
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"SUNCAL DELAYS OPENNING
THE COVES WILL NOT HAVE ANY FURTHER CONSTRUCTION UNTIL THEY SEE A CHANGE IN THE REAL ESTATE MARKET PLACE."

The truth is that Suncal is way overextended throughout California and does not have the money to continue until some of their development's properties begin selling. Rumors of bankruptsy abound.

http://www.suncal.com/community/?id=67
 
I am surprised. Didn't they already flood the coves?
I would have thought that they would be at a point where they needed to sell something to recoup some of the expense.

Rod
 
Unfinished projects involving a levee are not good for anyone that uses the island even if the design and construction done by Top Grade was excellent levees need maintenance. I believe Bethel Island was counting on Delta Coves revenue for levee and water system improvements and maintenance; unless money can be found elsewhere those improvements and maintenance will need to be defered. My boat is probably okay in dry storage for now but this winter when the lease is up for renewal I am going to assess the risks and options. When we get the high tides and winter storms I may release the bow line from the trailer when I put my boat away so it at least has a chance to swim.
 
More than likely it will remain unfinished for awhile and turn into the next Mayberry Slough.
 
Okay, let's dispel some of the rumors/assumptions!

The levee around Delta Coves, which have been flooded with water, have been built to 200 flood-year standards. Even if they went a couple of years w/o maintenance, they would not flood unless there is a major mistake in the construction. BIMID may have assumed responsibility for the levee integrity. If so, they will monitor and maintain as they do the rest of the levee around BI. The entire project had to meet all Corp of Engineer's requirements prior to breaching the levee and allowing water into the coves.

Suncal has 24/7 security, including the coves and docks. No boats are allowed to enter or tie up within the coves and no one is allowed to enter the levee roads. The entire area is enclosed with a chain link fence, so no one "accidentally" enter the area.

Suncal is doing no marketing of lots until the market conditions change; however, if anyone wanted to buy a lot right now, I'm sure they would accommodate the transaction! I'm not sure if the county will issue any building permits yet though.

Most of the businesses on or near BI were looking forward to the increased revenues anticipated by sale of these lots. Some of these may not be able to hang on until the economy turns around.....
 
This may be weird, but....

On the suncal page linked to above, there's an option to see a second photo. If you click on that, the picture seems to show several of the smaller arms dammned off from a dry main arm into the development. What's up with that?

BTG
 
Flutterby, I respect your point of view but unfinished projects are bad. If I were a property owner on Bethel Island or officer in the levee or water municipal improvement districts there I would be 1st in line to put a lien against the developer's construction bond. Since I only lease dry storage space there I don't have that much skin in this game. I don't like looking at the cyclone wire fence on the perimeter of the development from Gateway or the high berm for the new levee beyond the fence. DD
 
BTG----the webmeister probably got laid off and the website isn't being properly maintained. When I g00gled "suncal" yesterday, I couldn't even find mention of Delta Coves. Had to go to BIMID's website and use an old link to find the info.......

DeltaDawg----I have no idea what BIMID is or has done, so will not comment. They were against this project [breaching the levee] from the gitgo; Contra Costa County tried to stop it and managed to delay it for 20 years. Finally a court of law ruled in favor of the plaintiffs and the project moved forward at the worst of times [height of real estate bubble] under threat of Contempt of Court.

Personally, I have never been in favor of this project and hate the ugly fence, the high levee and no landscaping. It has turned into a complete boondoggle.

On the good side, Bethel Island is the most populous island in the delta. No one can afford to pay the costs of it flooding, so it is given a high priority by local and state govs. That seawall across from Sugar Barge cost the state $10M to engineer and build. It's sole purpose is to protect the levee along that stretch of Piper Slu. I think your boat is safe!

Hang around sometime in the winter during a bad storm during high waters---especially if it is windy. You will see what is done to monitor and address any levee issues ASAP on Bethel Island.
 
I don't think that SunCal can keep boats from entering the waterway. I believe it is now Federal Water and not restricted. I saw a skier in there the other day.
 
A skier? If I were designing a levee for a residential area would I design for the wake from a ski boat or would I assume a residential area is a no wake zone? I would assume that it would be a no wake zone like 80% of the perimeter around Bethel Island. As an engineer I would say we are now operating outside the design envelope.

I am going to release that bow line on the trailer this weekend so my boat at least has a chance to float without the trailer holding it down.
 
Well, normally California law keeps speed down close to floats that have boats attached or poeple on them, but with no floats in the area, maybe it is a ski zone. I'm with Phil, I don't think they can keep boaters out now....

BTG
 
They can declare any area a no-wake zone, with or without docks. I would certainly expect this to be such an area!

Rod
 
Maybe boats can enter and exit the area, but they cannot tie up to a dock, etc. So I doubt that any slummers from Mayberry Slu will move in. Delta Dawg, IMHO you are way too worried! That levee is higher then the one over at SB.........it can handle some wakes from a ski boat.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Flutterby

Maybe boats can enter and exit the area, but they cannot tie up to a dock, etc. So I doubt that any slummers from Mayberry Slu will move in. Delta Dawg, IMHO you are way too worried! That levee is higher then the one over at SB.........it can handle some wakes from a ski boat.

Click to expand...
Better knock on wood. Or you just may see a bunch of barges with cranes and campers on top of them towed by several boats that are ready to sink.
 
quote:
Better knock on wood. Or you just may see a bunch of barges with cranes and campers on top of them towed by several boats that are ready to sink.
Click to expand...


I'll be dropping off a chart this weekend to a certain lash barge in Mayberry with the way to Delta Coves pointed out!
 
You silly guys! Those barges and boats originated near Bethel Island and Contra Costa County chased them out! They will stay there until Sac County forms an ordinance and begins enforcement of same. It will probably be a year or two at least.

I did notice that a lot levee work was done recently along Sherman Island across from the barge menagerie. I wonder what that is all about?
 
When I was there Sunday I saw a water truck continiously spreading water on the top of the Delta Coves levee. I think it is to keep the sand wet to mediate the wind errosion. They also have straw berms and a embossed design in the sand on the inland side to mediate rain errosion. There is starting to be a bit of vegitation taking root on the top of the levee. I drove up on the levee by where it intersect Gateway and Piper and the water side has rip rap and they sure did a lot of noisy pounding while they were building the leeve so hopefully it will remain water tight.
Flutterby, I didn't release my boat from the trailer. I hope the developer keeps up the leeve maintenance so it does not become a burden to the tax payers or the local municipal improvement district. The developer has the 24x7x365 security truck and water truck costs and isn't making money on his/her investment though so I am a little worried. DD
 
I think that at some point, the levee will be turned over to BIMID for care and maintenance as is the rest of the BI levee........
 
Wall Street collapse kicks up Delta dust in today's Contra Costa Times
http://www.mercurynews.com/arts/ci_10810726

I wrote back in Aug if I were a Bethel Island property owner I would be going after that builder's construction bond and it looks like the county is about to do that. The part about the ground water flow causing rising water is distubing and dissapointing. I am going to untie my boat from the trailer the next time I go out there so it has a floating chance.
 
DD,

I saw the same article and it reminded me of this thread. Thanks for posting it. I suspect that things will get worse before they get better at Delta Coves. The economic crisis hasn't helped them, but they made some poor choices in developing those lots. Docks too small and no variety int he configuration to account for multiple boats and toys.
 
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