Frequently Asked Questions

Why do we need to reduce flood risk?
To protect life, property and the local economy. The City of Watsonville, the town of Pajaro and surrounding agricultural areas face extreme flood risk from the lower Pajaro River and Salsipuedes and Corralitos Creeks. The federal levees that protect the communities were poorly constructed in 1949 and have broken multiple times since. A flood in 1995 caused nearly $100 million in damages and life loss. Levees nearly broke again in the storms of early 2017. Flooding in the future is likely unless levees are repaired.

How will we reduce flood risk?
By repairing and properly maintaining levees. The Pajaro River Flood Risk Management Project will upgrade levees to provide up to 100-year flood protection to the City of Watsonville, the town of Pajaro and surrounding agricultural land. Ongoing maintenance is required so levees don’t weaken and fail. PRFMA is taking over levee operations and maintenance on behalf of the city and counties to provide consistent levels of service and long-term cost savings.

Who is building the project?
The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in partnership with the Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency (PRFMA) and the CA Department of Water Resources. The project is in early stages of pre-construction, engineering and design.

What does the project cost?
Approximately $400 million, but the USACE and state are covering 100 percent of the construction costs.

When will the project be finished?
The project is currently in the preliminary engineering and design phase. Construction is expected to begin in 2025 and will be completed within 8 years.

What’s the local cost share for the project?
Nothing. Normally in projects like these, the local community is required to pay a local cost share. In this case, the local cost share would have been $42 million, making it unaffordable. However, Senate Bill 496 (Laird) authorized the CA Department of Water Resources to cover the local cost share, saving the community tens of millions of dollars.

Why doesn’t the USACE and State pay for the maintenance costs as well?
The USACE and State are paying $400 million for the project. That’s an investment of about $130,000 for each property that will receive reduced flood risk. The costs for levee operations and maintenance always has been, and will continue to be, a local responsibility.

What is “levee operations and maintenance?”
PRFMA is responsible for maintaining the overall flood risk reduction system, which includes 24 miles of levees, 12 miles of channels, 15 pump stations, and 85 culverts. PRFMA will perform both channel maintenance and levee maintenance. Levee maintenance activities (separate from channel maintenance) include – among other things – erosion repairs (rock and rip rap), vegetation management, rodent control, soil compaction, environmental and federal permitting, reporting, and compliance, and patrolling the levees 24/7 when water levels are high.

What about channel maintenance?
Channel maintenance is part of the overall program for flood system maintenance, but it is paid for with revenues from existing Zone 7 and Zones 1/1A assessments. The proposed assessment is specifically to cover the $1.2 million shortfall between existing and needed revenues for levee maintenance.

Why is PFRMA taking over levee operations and maintenance for the counties and city?
To provide long-term cost savings by making services more efficient and consistent. The Agency will also develop a centralized plan to improve flood-related emergency response activities.

Why an assessment for levee operations & maintenance?
To provide adequate revenues for required operations and maintenance activities. The USACE and State will invest $400 million to construct the project. However, as a condition of federal/state funding agreements, PRFMA must promise that levees will be maintained to strict federal standards and regulations. There is a $1.2 million annual shortfall between existing and needed revenues to adequately maintain the levees, now and into the future. Proposed assessment revenues will be used to adequately fund levee operations and maintenance.

How much is the assessment?
The average single family residential assessment for levee operations and maintenance is about $16 per month. Assessments will differ based on property characteristics, like land use type, and relative flood risk.

Who gets to vote on the proposed assessment?
Owners of property within the proposed assessment district boundary. Property owners receive ballots by mail and must return them by mail, or in person.

What happens if the assessment is not approved by property owners?
PRFMA will lose $400 million in federal and state funding for the project. There is no other funding available for the project, so it could not be constructed. As part of the project funding agreements PRFMA will sign with the USACE and the State, PRFMA must provide assurances that the levees will be maintained to strict federal standards. In this way, the USACE and State can protect their $400 million investment.

How are assessments calculated?
Under CA Proposition 218 law, only properties that benefit from PRFMA’s operations and maintenance activities can be assessed. The benefit to each property is the avoidance of flood damages to land and structures as a result of these services. Individual assessments are calculated based on property characteristics (land use type, acreage, structure type and size) and relative flood risk (based on levee breach and overtopping analysis).

Is the proposed assessment a one-time cost, or is it annual?
The assessment is an annual cost and will be included on property tax bills, if approved by property owners. Properties that don’t receive property tax bills will be directly billed by PRFMA.

Will the assessment amount stay the same or increase over time?
The proposed assessment can be increased by no more than 4 percent, or the Consumer Price Index if it is lower. The increase is not automatic and must be approved on an annual basis by the PRFMA Board of Directors.

Will there be an oversight committee, if the assessment is approved by property owners?
Yes. At its March 9 meeting, the Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency Board of Directors asked staff to bring forward a plan for a Citizens’ Assessment Oversight Committee to represent the interests of property owners in the expenditure of assessment revenues. The Committee would review financial reports, annual audit documents, and annual budget proposals and report back to the community on its findings.

Do I have to pay flood insurance if the assessment is approved?
Properties that are within the FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area will no longer be required to purchase flood insurance once the project is completed. If the assessment is not approved and the project can’t be completed, then these properties will remain within the Special Flood Hazard Area indefinitely. And, additional properties may be added to the Special Flood Hazard Area in the future, without a project to reduce flood risk.

I’m not required to purchase flood insurance. How does this project and levee operations and maintenance help me?
The existing levees along the river and creeks provide among the lowest levels of flood protection in California. The levee improvement project and ongoing maintenance of the levees will significantly reduce flood risk, which in turn protects your investment, your property value, and the local economy. 

I already pay into Zone 7 and Zones 1/1A on my tax bill.  Why do we need another flood control fee?
PRFMA is taking over levee operations and maintenance on behalf of the city and counties. This will save money due to cost efficiencies (e.g. consolidated administration; increased “buying” power for supplies) and also ensure consistent levels of service. The estimated annual budget to adequately fund levee operations and maintenance is $3.8 million/year. Existing Zone 7 and Zones 1/1A provide $2.6 million per year. The proposed assessment will provide the remaining $1.2 million in revenues for required services.