Pacheco Stormwater District moves ahead on levee repairs, FEMA reimbursements and multiple grant pursuits

The Pacheco Stormwater District received updates April 28 on debris removal and levee-repair work, was told Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursements appear close to being obligated for both tasks, and directed staff and trustees to pursue several state and federal grant and technical-assistance options.

District public works staff reported all five debris piles identified after the storms have been removed and moved to the south side of the levee system; the final pile slated for burning is at the northeast corner of Lovers Lane and Pacheco Creek and staff and the property owner will meet on-site Wednesday at 01:30 to finalize safe-burn procedures. "The debris piles, all 5 piles have been removed," Public Works Administrator Steve Blue said when summarizing the cleanup and levee repair schedule. He said the final levee-repair contract was finalized and repairs are scheduled to start next week.

Why it matters: additional funding and technical support could reduce the district's out-of-pocket costs for emergency cleanup and levee work and shape longer-term repairs and maintenance. Trustees said they want to lock in agency relationships and applications before funding windows close.

FEMA status and reimbursements FEMA has completed multiple internal review steps and "looks like they've agreed to approximately $900,000" for debris removal and about $300,000 for levee repairs, Steve Blue told trustees; he added FEMA had set up an administrative-cost project that would reimburse roughly 5% of eligible project costs (about $18,000 for the levee repair item once obligated). Blue cautioned that obligation is "one step away" from actual payment and that there can be a time lag between obligation and receiving funds.

State and federal grant opportunities Trustees discussed several funding avenues: a federal PL 84-99 registration through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the 2023–24 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) disaster-recovery allocations administered by the California Department of Housing and Community Development, and habitat-focused funds such as the Fisheries Restoration Grant Program (FRGP).

- PL 84-99 / U.S. Army Corps: The district submitted letters of intent to the Army Corps and has not yet received substantive follow-up. Trustees agreed to pursue whether to apply to the PL 84-99 program — which provides rapid assistance after flood events — and to seek additional guidance from Corps staff before finalizing an application. A trustee volunteered to pursue the PL 84-99 application process and the board assigned multiple trustees and staff to work on further steps.

- Operations & Maintenance manual: Trustees discussed a National Levee Safety Program Operations and Maintenance (O&M) manual template the district located online and agreed to form a small subcommittee to draft an O&M manual if the Army Corps recommends proceeding. Trustees named Paula and Marcel to lead work on the O&M manual; Armando and Rochelle also volunteered to assist.

- CDBG disaster-recovery funding: County staff reported tentative county allocations tied to the 2023 storms: approximately $1,900,000 for infrastructure projects the county did not previously rebuild and about $9,600,000 for mitigation and resilience work, funds expected to be available in spring 2026. Public Works suggested using the roughly $1.9 million to rebuild Lubbers Lane because it functions as an emergency access route; staff also proposed using a portion of the $9.6 million for a hydraulic study of Pacheco Creek (staff estimated such a study at about $500,000) to identify prioritized repairs.

- Fisheries Restoration Grant Program (FRGP): Trustees discussed pursuing FRGP funding to improve anadromous salmonid habitat and to support sediment-removal or process-based restoration work. Rochelle summarized a technical exchange with Santa Clara Valley Water District staff, who said the creek has historical records of steelhead presence and that Valley Water can provide modeling and guidance. Trustees agreed to seek a concept review with Valley Water and to consider a competitive FRGP concept application for the next cycle.

Access, permitting and site inspections Trustees discussed in-person levee inspections and a proposed creek cleanup with the California Conservation Corps (CCC). Staff recommended small, targeted site visits with property owners' permission rather than large public tours; staff estimated about nine to 10 properties are involved along the levees. Steve Blue noted the district has easements but advised staff will seek written permission or coordination with individual owners prior to large crews entering private property.

Decisions and next steps Trustees agreed to pursue the PL 84-99 discussion, form the O&M manual subcommittee (Paula and Marcel, with Armando and Rochelle participating), and to continue coordination with county staff on CDBG and FEMA reimbursement processes. Public Works said it would continue outreach to the Army Corps, FEMA and other agencies and organize limited site visits with property owners and the CCC. The board also noted the district will work with external partners including Santa Clara Valley Water District and Pacheco Pass Water District as grant opportunities develop.

The district canceled its regular May meeting and will next meet June 23; trustees said the intervening time will be used to form subcommittees and prepare grant concept materials.

Ending Staff will return to the board with more specific grant timelines, a candidate operations and maintenance manual draft after Corps guidance, and a proposed schedule for levee inspections and the CCC cleanup. The trustees said they will prioritize getting the hydraulic assessment underway so future repair dollars can be targeted.