Partnership agreement signed for Pajaro River flood project

California Construction News staff writer

The Pajaro River Flood Risk management project has been approved to construct levees and improvements along the lower Pajaro River and its tributaries to provide 100-year flood risk reduction in the area – up from the existing eight-year level of protection.

With the project partnership agreement signed outlining the cost sharing and execution of work under the project that will be managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in partnership with the Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency, construction is expected to start in the summer of 2024.

“California is investing in the infrastructure and tools needed to meet the challenges of extreme weather across the state,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement. “This project is critically needed to protect communities in the Pajaro Valley, and I thank Speaker Rivas, Senator Laird and all our partners working to make it a reality.”

The governor, in partnership with the legislature, has announced $436 million in the most recent budget to support flood response and projects to protect communities from future flooding. Of this funding, $40 million was provided to the communities of Pajaro and Planada for flood relief this summer, including direct relief to residents and workers regardless of documentation and citizenship status.