Supervisors hear update on County Road 40; public safety, access and long-term cost concerns raised

Yolo County public works staff gave an extended update July 8 on the status of County Road 40, a rural unpaved route in the county’s northwest corner that has not received routine county maintenance since a 2009 Board decision to cease maintenance.

Todd Riddio, director of Public Works, told supervisors the county holds formal right of way for only a small section of the road (about one mile near Davis Creek Reservoir and a third-mile within Cache Creek Regional Park). Much of the corridor crosses federal Bureau of Land Management land and private parcels, Riddio said, and the county ceased maintenance and gate repairs after repeated vandalism and budget cuts during the 2008–09 period.

The low-water crossing on Cache Creek that once provided passage was rebuilt with state funding and a taller replacement bridge opened in 2022; the State Route 16 gate is now maintained by County Parks and allows pedestrian, equestrian and ATV access. Cal Fire has the code to access the gate and told county staff it will clear portions of the road when needed for firefighting operations. Riddio said Cal Fire has used temporary bridges in recent years when emergency access was required.

Why it matters: The lack of routine maintenance has produced a practical access problem for emergency responders. Cape Vallejo Valley Fire Chief Jesse Capitano, who said his district regularly responds to time-consuming rescues in the area, described missions that can require helicopter long-line hoists, air ambulances, multiple engine companies and sheriff's search-and-rescue teams. “These remain some of the most time-intensive and technically challenging calls that we see,” Capitano said.

Board members pressed staff on potential paths forward, including reestablishing county maintenance, convening stakeholders such as BLM, Cal Fire, sheriff, local fire districts, adjacent Lake County and tribal partners, and exploring grant funding. Riddio estimated that bringing the road back to an all-vehicle standard after 16 years of deferred maintenance could cost on the order of several hundred thousand to about $1 million, with annual upkeep thereafter varying by weather; he suggested $250,000+ per year as a rough maintenance estimate.

Several supervisors and the CAO supported convening partners to explore options and funding sources, including state climate resilience funds (Proposition 4) and other grants. Supervisor Barajas asked to be included in future conversations; Supervisor Frerichs and others urged including Congressman Thompson's office, BLM, Yocha Dihi and other stakeholders. The board did not vote to resume routine maintenance funding at this meeting.

Actions and next steps: The board directed staff and the CAO to convene partner agencies for a discussion of access, emergency response needs and funding options. Staff identified potential constraints including fragmented right-of-way, historic decisions to cease county maintenance, and costs for both initial restoration and ongoing maintenance. Cal Fire indicated it can clear the route for firefighting when necessary and already has access codes for the gate.

Public safety context: County staff and fire officials described the tradeoffs between leaving the route unmaintained (saving county road funds) and the time-and-resource cost when complex rescues or fire responses are required. Chief Capitano requested inclusion in planning discussions and partnership on any proposed steps.

Fiscal implications: Staff said reestablishing county maintenance would require board action and likely a multi-hundred-thousand-dollar initial outlay, plus uncertain annual maintenance. The board discussed potential outside funding sources, including Proposition 4 climate resilience funds and other state/federal grant programs, and asked staff to return with options.

The board asked staff to continue interagency engagement and return with recommended next steps; no appropriation or maintenance resumption occurred on July 8.