Marin County adopts flood control and stormwater budgets; supervisors press for clarity on Zone 9 funding and operations

The Marin County Board of Supervisors on May 20 conducted a public hearing and adopted baseline budgets for the Marin County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, encompassing the countywide stormwater program and eight flood zones.

Assistant Director Vanessa Davidson introduced staff and said the district was created in 1953 under Appendix 68 of the Water Code to plan, fund, construct and maintain flood control projects. Rob Carson, stormwater program administrator, presented the countywide stormwater program (MixedStop), and Tracy Clay, Water Resources Division manager, presented the flood zone budgets and capital improvement projects.

Why it matters: The district operates and maintains pump stations, levees and creeks, funds capital projects to reduce flood risk and must balance rising operation and environmental compliance costs with limited local revenues. Supervisors focused questions on transparency of inflows and outflows, the future after expiring fee measures and how the county will pay for large capital projects while sustaining operation and maintenance.

Stormwater (MixedStop)

Rob Carson said the countywide stormwater program supports permit compliance, trash‑control planning and green infrastructure design. Key points:

- Budget: MixedStop proposed about $4.1 million in expenditures and roughly $4.0 million in revenue for FY2025–26, with a modest draw on reserves. - Grants and construction: The draft budget includes roughly $2.5 million in current EPA grant funding for trash‑capture…