Merced supervisors back stakeholder outreach on flood control district; engineering, funding questions remain

The Merced County Board of Supervisors on July 22 directed staff to begin broad stakeholder engagement and examine governance options for the county’s statutorily created Flood Control District after a multi‑agency presentation outlined jurisdiction, potential projects and funding mechanisms.

Mark Hendrickson, the county executive officer, and staff briefed supervisors on the Flood Control District (established by state statute in 1982), maps of county streams, and the scale of ongoing maintenance. Water resources staff estimated that vegetation management alone for the Merced Streams Group could cost about $3.5 million per year.

“Flood control districts are created exclusively by the legislature,” Lacey McBride, Merced County water resources manager, told supervisors during the presentation. McBride reviewed county‑wide streams, historic assurances tied to federal flood projects and the role of flood control zones.

Nathan Bray, a public‑works…