What you need to know: The Pajaro River Flood Risk Management Project breaking ground today will provide 100-year flood risk reduction in the area – up from the existing eight-year level of protection. The Governor has advanced funding and key legislation to move the project forward and protect local communities.
October 3, 2024 - SACRAMENTO – State and federal partners on Wednesday celebrated the groundbreaking of a project that will provide 100-year flood risk reduction to the City of Watsonville, the Town of Pajaro and surrounding agricultural areas. Since taking office, Governor Gavin Newsom has signed legislation to provide advanced funding for the Pajaro River Flood Risk Management Project, cover 100 percent of non-federal costs and streamline environmental review.
The Governor traveled to Pajaro last year amid major flooding to pledge the state’s support for the community and work to protect against flood risk. Existing levees that protect the area were built decades ago and provide only an eight-year level of flood protection from the lower Pajaro River and its tributaries. The project under construction will provide 100-year flood risk reduction to the City of Watsonville and the Town of Pajaro.
“This urgent work underway is critical to protecting vulnerable communities that have faced the threat of devastating flooding for far too long. California is strengthening flood protections in at-risk communities across the state, a key priority as we continue to experience extreme weather. I’m grateful for the partnership of our legislators and federal and local leaders who have worked together to advance this project.”
Governor Gavin Newsom
Construction is being managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in partnership with the Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency.
The Governor, in partnership with the Legislature, has invested a total of $560 million over the last two state budgets to support flood response and projects to protect communities from future flooding. $125 million of this funding was made available to support flood preparedness and recovery projects in at-risk communities.
State action to safeguard Pajaro Valley communities
- The Governor last year signed AB 876 by Speaker Robert Rivas, an urgency measure that streamlines environmental review of the Pajaro River Flood Risk Management Project to expedite levee repairs.
- The Governor signed legislation in 2022 by Senator John Laird authorizing advanced payments for early-stage work on the project.
- The Governor signed legislation in 2021 by Senator Laird to cover up to 100 percent of the non-federal costs, which is estimated to total $210 million of the $599 million in project costs.
- Of the state’s cost share, $47 million has already been provided for key early-stage work on the project.
- The state provided $40 million to the communities of Pajaro and Planada for flood relief in summer 2023, including direct relief to residents and workers regardless of documentation and citizenship status.
Source: Office of the Governor
