CONTINUING AUTHORITY PROGRAM, SEC. 1135

PROJECT LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION

The Watsonville Slough coastal lagoon is located in Santa Cruz County, California. It is a tributary of the Pajaro River, where the river meets the Pacific Ocean. Land use practices, Federal levees, and low-lying infrastructure in the project area have decreased the size of Watsonville slough, limiting tidal marsh and coastal wetland habitat that is vital to native fish, bird, and wildlife species, including endangered central coast steelhead. This study is working to improve the quality and function of the coastal lagoon and estuary wetland habitats by restoring hydrologic function and associated coastal lagoon habitats.

The tentatively selected plan (TSP) alternative leverages engineering with natures (EWN) principles to replace 6 undersized culverts and raise the road that is on top of the culverts to improve tidal exchange, while reducing local road flooding and the need for premature manual breaching of the lagoon. By reducing the need to artificially breach the lagoon, the Watsonville estuary would remain in a closed lagoon state longer, restoring a more natural hydrologic process, while expanding and improving estuary habitat. The accompanying road raise would also improve access for underserved communities to the California State Park’s Palm Beach as well as owner/renter access to the Pajaro Dunes community during high water events. This project is considered by Santa Cruz County and local stakeholders to be the first step in lower watershed sea level adaptation and future estuary restoration efforts.

            TOTAL FUNDING

            TOTAL COST                                                                            $   14,440,000

            FEDERAL COST                                                                        $   10,320,000

            NON-FEDERAL COST                                                              $     4,120,000

            TOTAL FEDERAL COST THROUGH FY 2025                         $     1,150,000

            FY 2024 BUDGET                                                                     $        450,000

            COST TO COMPLETE                                                               $     9,998,000

FY 23 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Tentatively selected plan milestone completed (20 April 2023)

FY 24 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Restart study after pause related the non-Federal cost share
• Release of draft report for public, policy, agency technical review (summer 2024)

ISSUES AND OTHER INFORMATION

• California State Parks has requested that the team evaluate increases in lagoon flooding on their Palm Beach State Park infrastructure, including a parking lot and entrance to their park. Feasibility level hydraulic modeling shows an increase of 1-3 inches of flooding at the entrance to the park and on portions of the parking lot. The PDT is working with the Parks to determine how the project may be able to address these concerns.
• The project will need a non-standard estate (NSE) to secure the necessary property rights on land owned by the State of California.
• Sea level rise is anticipated to affect the project area.

CONGRESSIONAL INTEREST­

• 19^th District, Rep. Jimmy Panetta

POINT OF CONTACT

• Deputy for Project Management, Thomas R. Williams, 415-503-6560

Updated on 5 March 2024