Cover image of 2022 Update to the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan 
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) today released the public draft of the 2022 Update to the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan (CVFPP). The plan is California's strategic framework for reducing flood risk in the Central Valley, which has among the highest flood risk in the nation.
California’s rapidly changing climate is increasing flood risk across the state. More intense swings from record dry to record wet conditions mean flooding can happen at any time. The increased frequency and magnitude of wildfires in California also heighten the risk for dangerous flood conditions.
The Central Valley is home to millions of people and billions of dollars in infrastructure, property and farms, all at risk of catastrophic flooding.
“The 2022 plan update focuses on creating a flood management system that is resilient to our changing climate,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “This year we saw record rainfall in October and record snowfall in December, only to have it followed by record dry conditions from January to March. We need to be prepared for flooding to happen at any time, whether we’re in a drought or not.”
The CVFPP now goes to the Central Valley Flood Protection Board, which is responsible for adopting the plan and will host public hearings and review written comments to inform any changes to the public draft prior to adoption. The public comment period is open through June 6, 2022.
“It’s been a decade since the Board adopted the first Central Valley Flood Protection Plan,” said Jane Dolan, president of the Central Valley Flood Protection Board. “Since 2007, California has invested $3.6 billion in managing floods, with another $500 million recently committed. We’ve reduced flood risk, but we must double down. It’s not a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when’ we experience extreme flood, just as climate change has pushed us beyond the historical record on drought.”
DWR developed the 2022 CVFPP Update with significant engagement by local flood agencies and other interested parties. It has three central themes: building flood system resilience during a changing climate, alignment with other State planning efforts, and accountability and performance tracking. Additionally, the draft CVFPP outlines next steps in understanding the scope of flood management needs affecting underserved communities that are typically more vulnerable to flooding so that the State can better partner with them to be prepared.
Since the first plan in 2012, every five years the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan has evolved with improved science, new data, community input, and new policies that guide the implementation. The 2022 plan emphasizes resilience in the face of a changing climate and aligning Central Valley flood management with other State programs. It also builds on the 2012 and 2017 plans with an outcome-based approach to planning supported by monitoring, tracking, and adaptation to achieve desired results and accountability.
California law requires DWR to prepare, and the CVFPB to adopt, the CVFPP every five years. Each iteration of the CVFPP also updates the State Systemwide Investment Approach (SSIA), which guides how the State will invest in programs and projects to improve flood management in the Central Valley.
The Central Valley Flood Protection Board will host three public hearings to receive comments.
- May 12 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. (Stockton)
Robert Cabral Agriculture Center, Assembly Rooms 2 & 3
2101 E Earhart Ave Stockton, CA 95206
- May 16 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. (Sacramento)
California Natural Resources Agency
First floor auditorium
715 P Street Sacramento, CA
- May 19 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.(Virtual)
Virtual meeting
Public comments will also be received by USPS mail:
California Department of Water Resources
Systemwide Multi-benefit Initiatives Branch
Attn: Jason Sidley
715 P Street, 6th Fl. Mailbox 15
P.O. Box 942836
Sacramento, CA 94236-0001
Comments may also be submitted electronically to cvfmp@water.ca.gov using reviewer guidance provided at https://water.ca.gov/Programs/Flood-Management/Flood-Planning-and-Studies/Central-Valley-Flood-Protection-Plan.
The public draft of the 2022 CVFPP Update, and information materials are in English. For language access requests, please contact cvfmp@water.ca.gov.
A presentation about the public draft is available from the Board’s YouTube Channel.
For more information and to access the public draft, visit https://water.ca.gov/Programs/Flood-Management/Flood-Planning-and-Studies/Central-Valley-Flood-Protection-Plan.
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Contact:
Jason Ince, Information Officer, Public Affairs, Department of Water Resources
(916) 820-8138 | Jason.Ince@water.ca.gov
Ruth Darling, Program Manager, CVFPB
(916) 224-4943 | Ruth.Darling@CVFlood.ca.gov