California Construction News staff writer
The groundbreaking of the Pajaro River Flood Risk Management Project last week is being called a significant initiative aimed at reducing flood risks for the City of Watsonville, the Town of Pajaro, and surrounding agricultural areas. This project is expected to provide protection against 100-year flood events, addressing long-standing vulnerabilities in the region.
“The urgent work underway is critical to protecting vulnerable communities that have faced the threat of devastating flooding for far too long,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom. “California is strengthening flood protections in at-risk communities across the state, a key priority as we continue to experience extreme weather.”
The existing levees in the area, built decades ago, currently provide an eight-year level of flood protection against the lower Pajaro River and its tributaries. The new project, managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in collaboration with the Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency, aims to enhance safety and resilience in the region.
As construction begins, the project is a crucial step in enhancing flood resilience and protecting the livelihoods of those in the Pajaro Valley.
