Merced County advances Black Rascal Creek flood-control project; construction awaits federal permits

Merced County supervisors approved staff actions on Jan. 28 to advance the long-running Black Rascal Creek flood-control project, authorizing design consultant services to extend into bidding and construction and increasing the county's ability to acquire required mitigation credits.

The actions are intended to make the project "bid ready" once pending federal approvals are granted and to ensure the county can secure required environmental mitigation credits. The Board voted to approve the Department of Public Works items that include item 17, which covers the Black Rascal project.

The project, sited northeast of the city of Merced near East Yosemite and North Arbolito Avenue, is designed to detain about 2,500 acre-feet on roughly 300 acres and provide flood protection for the city of Merced and the Franklin/Beachwood area during a 200-year design event. Nathan Bray, Merced County director of public…