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Oxnard joins county project to build Santa Clara River levee reach; council accepts $1 million state grant
Summary
The City Council accepted a $1 million grant from the California Department of Water Resources toward construction of the Santa Clara River (SCR3) levee reach. County officials described regional cooperation and estimated the project protects roughly 6,000 homes and has a high benefit‑cost ratio.
The City Council on Dec. 17 voted to accept a $1 million grant from the California Department of Water Resources toward construction of the Santa Clara River Reach 3 levee project, joining a regional funding package led by the Ventura County Watershed Protection District.
Ventura County staff explained the SCR3 project is intended to certify flood protection for neighborhoods on the downstream reaches of the Santa Clara River and to reduce the area’s exposure to 1%‑annual‑chance floods. Gerard Kapusick, Strategic Resiliency Group Manager for the Ventura County Watershed Protection District, told council the project has a high benefit‑cost ratio and that the county led a multi‑agency funding plan: roughly 72% of construction costs would be borne by the watershed protection district, with the city contributing an agreed portion, and state and federal grants filling remaining gaps. Kapusick said the project protects “roughly 6,000 homes plus or minus” and that the average National Flood Insurance Program policy in the area could cost approximately $2,500–$3,000 per year today — a recurring cost some homeowners could avoid if the levee is completed and properties are removed from mandatory flood insurance requirements for federally backed mortgages.
The council praised the regional cooperation and approved the staff recommendation to accept the state grant and execute the grant agreement. Kapusick said construction is scheduled to begin in January (the county had awarded the construction contract in late October) and that certain work must be phased around seasonal and endangered‑species protections, which may require work over two construction seasons. He also thanked city staff for coordinating and helping secure the funding.
The council unanimously approved the resolution accepting the grant and delegating authority to the city manager to execute grant documents and accept funds.
What was not decided: the meeting did not change the project scope; council’s action accepted an element of the funding package and did not by itself authorize any additional city capital appropriation beyond the amounts previously agreed in interagency funding plans.
Votes: council approved the acceptance of the state grant and resolution allowing execution of the grant agreement by a unanimous roll‑call vote.
