Staff reports construction progress on Tudor levee work, advances on design and grant applications for larger Sutter Bypass projects

Agency staff provided a multi‑project update on Oct. 8, 2025, including active construction on the Tudor flood risk reduction project, progress on design and permitting for the Sutter Bypass East Levee, and grant status for wildlife‑area and recreation projects in the Oroville/Thermalito area.

Michael, an agency project lead, described active work on the Tudor flood risk reduction project, a 1.6‑mile contract along the Sutter Bypass. "By the end of this month ... we'll have the levee all fully regraded. We'll have the all‑weather surface installed on top of the levee and we'll be ready for winter," Michael said. He reported the contractor completed a continuous cutoff wall from the Highway 99 bridge to the bypass, removed temporary pipes in the footprint, and has been regrading levee sections from both ends toward the center.

Design and grants Michael said the 5.2‑mile Sutter Bypass East Levee design team is about 90% complete and that the agency is awaiting comments from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to finish the 100% design package. The agency has submitted a pre‑application to Cal OES for a FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) application; staff said they plan to submit the full HMGP application to FEMA in spring 2026 if the pre‑application advances. Michael noted the agency had earlier pursued the BRIC (Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities) program but described the federal program landscape as changed and said the HMGP route is the current approach.

Wildlife area and recreation projects Staff said the Oroville Wildlife Area — Robinson project (planning/design name reported by staff) has secured a $1.1 million planning grant from the Department of Water Resources and a $2.1 million design/permitting grant from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and that a draft Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) construction grant for roughly $32 million is under staff review. If the WCB board approves that grant next month staff said the project could proceed to construction in 2027.

The Thermalito Afterbay boat ramp and campground project is packaged for bid pending Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approvals; staff said the project plans are essentially finalized and the agency expects to advertise soon and return to the board for a February contract award if bids are favorable.

Oroville levee work and Corps inspections Michael reported the U.S. Army Corps completed a levee safety review for the City of Oroville levee and provided recommendations including an operations and maintenance manual, additional geotechnical borings and some physical improvements near a park area. Michael said the Corps report concluded the levee would not be certifiable in its current condition for FEMA purposes and recommended a series of steps for the city to improve the levee.

He also said a Corps boots‑on‑the‑ground inspection scheduled for November may have been canceled because of a federal government shutdown and that staff would verify the schedule.

Context and next steps Staff said designs, permitting and grant applications are ongoing and that the agency will continue to coordinate with state partners (DWR, CDFW), federal partners (Army Corps, FEMA) and potential non‑federal cost‑share partners on project timing. Michael closed by reminding the board that staff would return next month with the bond‑refunding package discussed in the finance item.