Posted on March 27, 2017
By Jondi Gumz, Santa Cruz Sentinel
Jay Kinberger, South Pacific project manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, delivered disappointing news Tuesday to local officials seeking Pajaro River flood protection improvements for residents, businesses and growers whose farmland has been under water.
The Army Corps’ March 9 analysis focused on three improvements the agency considers economically justified. These three improvements are estimated to cost $177 million. The federal government would pay for 65 percent. That means the community would have to come up with $62 million.
This project would protect the urban centers of Watsonville and the town of Pajaro, which flooded in 1995 when storm waters punched through the levee and devastated homes, businesses and farms in Monterey County, but it would not protect ag land by the river and would not do anything for residents of Orchard Park or Interlaken, at-risk communities situated near creeks that feed into the river.
“We’ve evacuated that area five times this year,” county hydrologist Bruce LaClergue said of the Interlaken area.
“We’re leaving them to flood?” asked Supervisor Greg Caput, who represents Interlaken, a community with 100 homes. “We can’t leave them out.”
Many of those affected are farmworkers. People in the area earn less than $18,000 a year, said Supervisor Zach Friend, who has constituents affected.
Some locals worry the Army Corps plan would induce flooding in one area, constituting a “taking” of private property for public use, but the Army Corps does not share that concern.
The Zone 7 Flood Control and Water Conservation District, which includes representatives from Santa Cruz County and Watsonville, has been trying to get additional flood protection for 30 years.
Friend, who chairs the Zone 7 board, met a week ago with Major General Ed Jackson, deputy commanding general for civil and emergency operations at the Army Corps of Engineers. Together, they tried to find a way to get the Pajaro River flood protection project out of “inactive status,” where it’s been since December.
Friend said Jackson wanted a community workshop within 30 days.
As Friend questioned Kinberger, it became clear the Army Corps is offering one option, its “draft optimized national economic development” plan, and attempts to expand the project would mean complications and delays.
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“A focused plan is easier to complete on schedule and on budget,” Kinberger said.
He suggested the local community initiate additional protection later after this project is built, using the Army Corps’ “408 permit process.”
“I don’t see it as onerous,” he added.
Friend was torn.
“This is not what anybody wants to hear,” he said. “It’s very difficult to get a local funding measure passed… On the flip side, we need to do a project.”
A workshop date has yet to be announced.
The Zone 7 board approved $865,000 in three emergency contracts with Graniterock for Salsipuedes Creek and Pajaro River levee repairs, work that was applauded by Watsonville city councilmember Nancy Bilicich, who represents people in a 900-home senior community near the river.
Over the past 50 years, some $50 million has been invested in Pajaro River levee improvements, Friend said.
Army Corps analysis
Here is the cost benefit analysis by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the project the agency supports.
Reaches 5,6, right bank Corralitos/Salispuedes creeks, city of protecting Watsonville: Annual benefits $8 million, total cost $66.4 million, annual cost $2.5 million, benefit to cost ratio, 3.2
Reaches 2,3, right bank Pajaro River main stem, protecting city of Watsonville: Annual benefits $4 million, total costs $24.4 million, annual cost $928,000, benefit to cost ratio, 4.3
Reaches 2,3,4, left bank Pajaro River main steam, protecting town of Pajaro: Annual benefits $4 million, total costs $86.4 million, annual cost $3.2 million, benefit to cost ratio, 1.2.
Total: Annual benefits, $16 million, total costs $177.3 million, annual costs $6.7 million, benefit to cost ratio 2.4.
Source: Santa Cruz Sentinel
