Title
Consider receiving an update on the repair projects at the Pajaro River Levee Left Bank in Monterey County and provide direction to staff as necessary.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Supervisors:
Receive an update on the repair projects at the Pajaro River Levee Left Bank in Monterey County and provide direction to staff as necessary.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Monterey County Water Resources Agency (“Agency”) is the “non-federal sponsor” of the United States Army Corps of Engineers (“USACE”) Pajaro River Levee Federal Project Left Bank (“Levee”) under Public Law 84-99 (“PL 84-99”) and is charged with the operations and maintenance of said levee system within Monterey County. Due to severe weather events in January 2023 and March 2023, the Levee sustained two complete breach locations, one severe erosion location, and substantial damage at several locations within Monterey County.
The Agency applied for Federal assistance under the PL 84-99 for damages that occurred during both the January and March 2023 storm events with a total of 51 individual sites. The three most critical sites, described above, were approved by USACE as eligible for rehabilitation assistance with a goal to be repaired prior to the winter of 2023-24 to prevent potential further damage. Repairs were completed at the original breach location, upstream of the town of Pajaro (USACE Site 1), in early October. Additional maintenance and repairs were completed by the Agency in that upstream reach of the river, extending approximately three miles downstream of Site 1.
The most downstream levee breach (USACE site 3) has been completely designed and authorized and the contractor mobilized to the site in early October. Unfortunately, there have been numerous delays in repairing the site and the contractor and USACE continue to work on getting the site secured from high groundwater in order to begin levee rebuilding. The current authorizations to perform the work expire on December 31, 2023 and it is unknown at this time if the work will be completed prior to this deadline. Additional maintenance and repair work has been completed by the Agency in this downstream reach, extending approximately one mile upstream of Site 3. If the repair cannot be completed this winter season, then the Agency will coordinate with USACE and PRFMA to request State support for any necessary preparations before winter.
The final site (USACE Site 2), which is the severely eroded levee under State Highway 1, has had successful coordination amongst numerous partners, such as the County of Monterey Public Works, Facilities and Parks, California Department of Transportation, Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency (“PRFMA”), private property owners and agricultural lessees. This has allowed for the completion of critical infrastructure repairs to the bridge abutments, relocation and repair of the sewer force main, relocation and repair of an irrigation line casing, removal of numerous acres of debris and other efforts in order to prepare the site for USACE to repair the levee. In addition, the Agency has completed additional maintenance repair work extending approximately one mile upstream. At this time the final design and authorizations are not yet completed, and a contractor has not been selected. The Agency continues to meet and discuss options to move the repair forward with USACE. If the repair cannot be completed this winter season, then the Agency will coordinate with USACE and PRFMA to request State support for any necessary preparations before winter.
The Agency has continued to perform the non-federal sponsor duties to keep these projects moving and to meet critical deadlines. PRFMA and the Agency have re-negotiated an Agreement to provide for continued Agency support in the coordination of these critical repairs as well as routine maintenance and emergency response activities.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None
FINANCING:
None
Prepared by: Shaunna Murray, Deputy General Manager (831) 755-4860
Approved by: _________________________________________________
Ara Azhderian, General Manager, (831) 755-4860