PROJECT LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION
The Pajaro River Federal Levee Project, authorized by Section 10 of the Flood Control Act of 1944, Pub L. No. 534, 58 Stat. 900, primarily consists of earthen levees, with a low flow channel, at the downstream end of the Pajaro River watershed located in Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito counties of California. The levees were constructed in 1949 and designed to contain a 19,000 cfs design discharge, which is an estimated 10% (1/10) annual exceedance probability.
The Pajaro River Levees have had multiple non-federal sponsors (NFS) responsible for different sections of the levees since the construction of the levee system. The Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency (PRFMA), a joint powers authority of the County of Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County Flood Control and Water Conservation Zone No. 7, the County of Monterey, the Monterey County Water Resources Agency, and the City of Watsonville, was formed in 2021. PRFMA took on sponsorship of the Pajaro Levees on 1 July 2023 to plan, finance and implement projects and programs to reduce flood risk from the lower Pajaro River and its tributaries in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties.
Northern California received a series of atmospheric rivers (ARs) in January and March 2023. The Pajaro Levee – Left Bank (Pajaro LB) breached on the evening of Friday,10 March 2023. The initial breach (Site 1) was approximately at River Mile (RM) 10, flooding the town of Pajaro. The overflow from the breach resulted in partial breach damage at the Highway 1 crossing (Site 2) and a third breach downstream, located approximately at RM 1 (Site 3). The Pajaro Levee – Right Bank (Pajaro RB) experienced severe erosion in multiple locations from January through March.
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TOTAL FUNDING
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TOTAL PROJECT COST ESTIMATE
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$18.2 million
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Left Bank Repairs (estimated)
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$15.5 million
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Right Bank Repairs (estimated)
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$ 2.7 million
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FEDERAL COST
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$ 18.2 million
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TOTAL FUNDED TO DATE
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$15.7 million
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FY23 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Site 1 Repair Contract Awarded July 2023, Construction Completed Nov 2023
- Site 3 Repair Contract Awarded August 2023
- Site 2 Repair Contract Awarded Dec 2023
FY24 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Site 3 Levee Construction Completed Jan 2024
- Site 2 Levee Construction Competed Feb 2024
- Pajaro RB E&D 65% Completed Feb 2024
ISSUES AND OTHER INFORMATION
- Pajaro LB Site 3 – NFS requested culvert replacement in addition to levee repair. Culvert repair is 100% funded by NFS to be contracted by Corps contractor. Funds received from NFS, work is pending weather.
- Pajaro RB – 14 erosion sites to be repaired, construction to be completed by Dec 31, 2024
CONGRESSIONAL INTEREST
- 19th District, Rep. James Panetta
POINT OF CONTACT
- Deputy for Project Management, Thomas R. Williams, 415-503-6560
Updated on 29 February 2024