Title
Approve use of County Service Area (CSA) 50 funds for maintenance of the Maintained Flood Conveyance Areas (MFCAs) under the Carmel River Floodplain Restoration and Environmental Enhancement (CRFREE) project.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors (Board) approve use of County Service Area (CSA) 50 funds for maintenance of the Maintained Flood Conveyance Areas (MFCAs) under the Carmel River Floodplain Restoration and Environmental Enhancement (CRFREE) project.
SUMMARY:
CSA 50 was formed in 1967, with the purpose to allow extended county services to be performed. Active CSA services currently include storm drainage/surface water maintenance and levee maintenance. The CSA is located within a flood hazard area and damaging flood events occurred on two occasions in 1995, during the months of January and March.
Available funding in CSA 50 consists of $1,138,435 in fund balance and an estimated $125,413 in annual assessments for a total amount of $1,263,848. If this report is approved by the Board, $30,000 will be used for maintenance of the Maintained Flood Conveyance Areas (MFCA) under the CRFREE project. This funding is included the FY 2023-24 adopted budget and the proposed use of funds is within the allowable use of these funds.
DISCUSSION:
The CRFREE Project is a comprehensive effort to improve flood control and restore native riparian habitat, floodplain habitat, and hydrologic function to a portion of the lower floodplain along the Carmel River. The entirety of CSA 50 receives a flood risk reduction benefit from the CRFREE Project, including a reduction in 100-year flood elevation levels of up to two feet. Over 150 properties will be removed from the 100-year floodplain in their entirety following the CRFREE Project completion. Key aspects of the CRFREE Project are to: 1) Create notches in the levees along the south bank of the lower Carmel River, 2) Restore the south lower Carmel River floodplain, and 3) Build ...
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