Sacramento Flood Control Agency gets updates on erosion work, Sweeney Ranch pump station as SB 639 heads to governor

The Sacramento Flood Control Agency board of directors on Sept. 18, 2025 received updates from Executive Director Jason Campbell on federal budget uncertainty, progress on the American River Common Features 2016 erosion contract and the Sweeney Ranch pump station, and the status of California Senate Bill 639 and Corps of Engineers work on a nearby weir.

The report mattered because the projects and state legislation affect levee-certification schedules and potential federal funding. Campbell told the board that uncertainty in Washington over the fiscal 2026 budget could affect planned advocacy and project funding, and that the agency is monitoring potential cost and schedule impacts tied to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers work on the weir and related construction.

Jason Campbell, executive director, briefed the board on federal and local project developments. “They are still struggling with the budget for fiscal year 26,” Campbell said of Congress, adding that he and staff are planning to travel to Washington, D.C., in October to discuss budget items and project needs but would reschedule the trip if a federal shutdown occurs. Campbell said the agency will monitor how the budget process develops before confirming travel or meetings.

Campbell reported that erosion-contract 3A for the American River Common Features 2016 project is moving forward and that the contractor is mobilized. He described site conditions: the access path runs along the top of the levee, equipment must use a steep ramp to descend roughly 30 feet to the work area, and turbidity curtains and other controls are in place. “Contractor is mobilized. You can see the access path is on the top of the levee where the orange fence is on the picture on the left. You can see the ramp that is pretty steep because it's a 30 foot drop from the top of the levee to the water,” Campbell said, describing the constrained, single-lane work spaces where equipment operates.

Campbell also updated the board on the Sweeney Ranch pump station. He showed photographs of a large excavation and said crews were pouring a significant sump wall and working to lift the structure out of the ground and rebuild it before the end of the construction season. “Work continues, and we're hopeful that they're gonna be able to get that up out of the ground and get the lehi rebuilt before the end of the season,” he said.

On state legislation, Campbell said California Senate Bill 639 had been sent to the governor. The bill would extend the deadline for urban level of protection certifications that local land-use entities must prepare and submit to the Central Valley Flood Protection Board. Campbell said the extension would allow additional time for agencies and levee systems to complete the required certification work and that some local entities have already acted while others are scheduled to do so in upcoming months.

Director Caplan asked for more information about reported instability at a weir and whether the Corps of Engineers had identified corrective actions. “Can you bring me up to speed? We've seen some news reports about the weir and what's going on and the instability in the land,” Caplan said. Campbell said the Corps is evaluating options, that unsuitable soils and other issues are being addressed, and that different options carry differing cost and schedule impacts; he added that the Corps’ contract relationship with its contractor limits the agency’s ability to direct the Corps’ work. He said the Corps is continuing work on the fish passage and that a change order with Granite Construction related to the weir recovery is expected to come forward when the Corps provides details.

Board members asked that the executive director keep the board informed about cost and schedule impacts and present more detail when it is available. There were no public comments during the meeting, and Campbell closed his report by summarizing that additional briefings will follow as the Corps and contractors provide more information.

On correspondence, staff noted the agency had submitted a support letter for Senate Bill 639 to the governor. The board took routine action to approve consent items 1–7 earlier in the meeting; no public comment was received on those items and the board recessed into and returned from closed session with no reportable action.