Small Communities Flood Risk Reduction

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) is pleased to announce the final awards list for the Small Communities Flood Risk Reduction (SCFRR) Program (Phase 2) funding awards.  DWR released the Phase 2 SCFRR Program Proposal Solicitation Package (PSP) on December 5, 2019, to solicit proposals for design and implementation of flood risk reduction projects. The eligibility criteria for Phase 2 funding required that an applicant must have submitted a Phase 1 SCFRR Program funded draft feasibility study to DWR before the Phase 2 PSP application deadline (February 3, 2020). DWR received five Phase 2 applications. Three out of the five submitted projects were recommended to receive funding.  The 15-day public comment period for the draft recommended award list closed on June 8, 2020.

An overview of each project finalized to receive Phase 2 SCFRR Program funding awards is provided below.   

1. Franklin-Beachwood - Recommended funding: up to $9,708,638. The Black Rascal Creek Flood Control Project, sponsored by Merced County, would construct a 300-acre detention basin, increasing flood protection from 50-year to 100-year flood levels for over 6,000 residents in the surrounding community, plus an additional 79,000 residents in the disadvantaged portions of the City of Merced. This will result in a reduction in expected annual damages of $21 million and a reduction in annual flood insurance costs to almost 2,000 policies. 
2. Knights Landing - Recommended funding: up to $15,866,400. Sponsored by Yolo County and implementing levee improvements in the area will increase flood protection from 25-year to 100-year flood levels for over 1,000 residents and contribute to flood risk reduction for the remaining parts of the Knights Landing Basin. Approximately 200 annual flood insurance policies will see reductions in costs. 
3. Grimes - Recommended funding: up to $3,024,962. This project, sponsored by the Sacramento River West Side Levee District, includes remediation of 1.5 miles of Sacramento River levees and elevation of local residences to increase flood protection from 40-year to 100-year levels for almost 400 residents in the community of Grimes. Additionally, this project will contribute to flood risk reduction for downstream communities in Colusa and Yolo Counties, resulting in a reduction in expected annual damages of $2.2 million and a reduction in annual flood insurance costs for almost 350 policies. 

Disclaimer: The Final Award is estimated and conditional until final terms and conditions are agreed upon and an agreement has been executed. The awarded grant amount listed in the executed agreement can be less than the Final Award amount listed here based upon final negotiations between the Awardee and DWR. An “Award Notification Letter” will be mailed shortly to the successful applicants (awardees) listing the conditions that must be met before DWR will enter into a Grant Agreement with the awardee and additional requirements that must be addressed to maintain eligibility to receive grant funds.