Congressman Panetta Announces $2,815,000 in Federal Funding for Pajaro Flood Risk Reduction Project

SALINAS, CA - On Tuesday, January 26 Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) announced $2,815,000 in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers funding for the Pajaro River Flood Risk Management Project. The funding will be used to complete the preconstruction, engineering, and design (PED) phase of the project in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties. This funding is the product of extensive Congressional efforts and will help ensure the safety and prosperity of communities on the Central Coast of California. “I’m very proud to announce this major amount of federal funding for such a crucial phase of the Pajaro River Flood Risk Reduction Project,” said Congressman Panetta. "It’s nowhere near finished and it’s been a slog to move the project forward, but this funding for the completion of the PED is a huge step in the right direction. Today’s announcement is a result of the honest and trustworthy partnerships that we have developed with local leaders and national agencies, as well as our consistent communication, constant work, and continued focus on the goal of providing 100-year flood protection to economically disadvantaged and agricultural communities like Watsonville and Pajaro on the Pajaro River. I look forward to continuing that type of teamwork to get this project done.” “This is a major step toward ensuring equity for disadvantaged communities that have been neglected for too long. Our state, local, and federal leaders are pushing daily to elevate the voices of those who simply want flood protection yet have had to bear an outsized burden of vulnerability for over 50 years,” said Santa Cruz County Supervisor Zach Friend. "The Pajaro levee project is crucial to protect loss of life and property in the community of Pajaro and surrounding areas,” said Monterey County Supervisor John M. Phillips. “The increased flood protection it will provide for both very vulnerable residents in Watsonville and Pajaro, as well as to valuable agricultural land, is of primary importance to our local community. I appreciate the hard work and dedication of our local sponsors of the project, and particularly our federal representative Congressman Jimmy Panetta for ensuring the continued advocacy to the Corps of Engineers for this project." “Along with my colleagues in Monterey County, we on the staff level remain committed to working with the Corps to use these funds in an expeditious and efficient manner, with a sharp eye toward future construction of the project. We appreciate the active role that Congressman Panetta has played in securing funds to move this project into the preliminary engineering and design stage,” said Santa Cruz County Flood Control Division Manager Mark Strudley. The Pajaro River Flood Risk Reduction Project was authorized by the federal Flood Control Act of 1966, and local leaders have been working with the Army Corps since then to secure the authority for construction. In 2019, Congressman Panetta secured a final feasibility report for the Project, which was over 50 years in the making. The Director’s Report was the milestone that finally allowed the Project to enter into its PED phase, which made it eligible for federal funding. In 2020, Congressman Panetta secured $1,800,000 for the Project and has been actively engaged in tracking the usage of these funds. Congressman Panetta’s efforts to secure a historic investment of over $2,800,000 this year will allow the project to continue on its current path to complete its PED phase and ultimately move into construction.