West Sacramento proclaims Oct. 18–25 California Flood Preparedness Week, highlights levee projects and federal funding

The West Sacramento City Council on Oct. 15 proclaimed Oct. 18–25 as California Flood Preparedness Week and received an update from city flood protection staff and board members on levee projects and federal funding.

City staff and council members emphasized the scale of the local levee system and recent federal appropriations. The council noted West Sacramento is protected by roughly 50 miles of levees and that the West Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency and its partners are pursuing multi‑year projects to strengthen those protections.

Flood protection staff member Jen Wen summarized recent milestones and the near‑term schedule: “Together with our partners, the Army Corps of Engineers and Department of Water Resources, we are working toward achieving 200‑year level flood protection for our community,” she said.

Federal appropriations cited by staff included $25.4 million in 2022, $72.3 million in 2023 and $52.8 million in 2024 for design and construction related to local levee projects. Staff told the council the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed construction of the Yolo Bypass East Levee South project in 2023 and the Yolo Bypass East Levee North project in 2024 and is currently in design for portions of the Sacramento River North Levee, Stone Lock and remaining Yolo Bypass East Levee work.

Council members and local flood board representatives used the proclamation to underscore the public‑safety rationale for levee investments and to urge residents to review flood insurance and preparedness plans. Council members also noted the city’s population growth — from roughly 22,000 at incorporation to about 55,000 today — as a reason to prioritize flood protection.

What the proclamation does The proclamation recognizes California Flood Preparedness Week and encourages residents to learn about flood hazards and take preparedness steps. It does not itself authorize spending or change project approvals; project design and construction continue through the Army Corps and partner agencies.

Context and next steps City staff said construction for the Yolo Bypass East Levee project is anticipated to complete in 2026, and design work is ongoing on additional projects. Council members thanked city and flood‑agency staff and noted planned public outreach to keep residents informed; staff also encouraged residents to check and maintain flood insurance policies because flood coverage is often a separate policy from homeowners’ insurance.

Sources and provenance This article is based on the Oct. 15 council presentation and statements by flood protection staff during the meeting (agenda item 3).