Posted on February 7, 2024
SACRAMENTO, California — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District has awarded its first contract for the Lower San Joaquin River Tenmile Slough Levee (TS30L) Project, enabling the agency to relocate elderberry shrubs from the TS30L levee in advance of future levee improvements.
“This contract kicks off the physical work associated with area levee improvements to lower flood risk for Stockton and San Joaquin County residents,” said Margaret Engesser, project manager for the Lower San Joaquin River Project.
The transplant of the elderberry shrubs from the TS30L levee to a protected site is necessary in order to prevent harm and habitat loss to the Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle, a federally-listed threatened species.
The district awarded the contract task order for the elderberry relocation on January 23 to Landology, Inc. The elderberry shrubs are scheduled to be removed from TS30L and transplanted to the San Joaquin River West mitigation site during the week of February 12 through 15. The mitigation site, located approximately two miles west on the Wright Elmwood Tract, will be created as part of the TS30L project to offset the environmental impacts associated with the TS30L levee improvements.
USACE is executing the Lower San Joaquin River Project in partnership with the San Joaquin Area Flood Control Agency, the Central Valley Flood Protection Board, and the California Department of Water Resources. The Lower San Joaquin River Project is part of the larger San Joaquin River Basin, Lower San Joaquin River, California Project.
The project consists of several planned improvements to the flood risk reduction infrastructure in the areas around north and central Stockton. Completion of the entire project is estimated by 2037.
