County funding targets Lovers Lane reconstruction, trustees briefed on levee review and creek cleanup

The Pacheco Stormwater District on Jan. 26 was told county and state channels have identified funding to repair storm-damaged roads and reduce future flood risk, with $1.9 million tentatively earmarked to reconstruct Lovers Lane and about $9.6 million proposed for mitigation and evacuation-route projects. Steve Loop, who presented the update, said the Board of Supervisors was scheduled to vote on a project list the following day and that the county planned to submit the approved projects to the state Housing and Community Development authority for final consideration.

The funding matters to residents who described repeated, severe flooding on Lovers Lane. "We have experienced many major floods that have resulted in evacuations, severe damage, and even destruction of our properties," resident Alicia Yanes told trustees, urging the county to take immediate action beyond short-term sandbagging and ditches. Juan Francis Kurias added, "It was so bad that the water was, like, 4 feet high," and said his household includes a newborn and a wheelchair user, underscoring the safety risk.

Loop outlined how the amounts would be used if approved by supervisors: the $1.9 million is anticipated to cover reconstruction of Lovers Lane from Shore Road toward Highway 156, including improved pavement and drainage, while the larger mitigation funding would be applied to projects county staff identified as tied to the 2023 storms and future evacuation routes. Projects mentioned as candidates for that allocation included a $4 million proposal for Salinas Road as an evacuation route, roughly $500,000 for Pacheco Creek cleanup downstream of Lovers Lane, and repairs to a short segment between Fraser Lake Road and Highway 25. Loop said the county would issue requests for proposals for design and environmental services if the projects clear the board and cautioned that environmental reviews could push construction timelines into the next construction season.

Trustees and staff discussed how the watershed study and design work will be scoped to maximize eligibility for additional grants. "If we can make the argument or provide some evidence" that work would benefit species such as steelhead, Loop said, "it definitely helps open up possibilities for a lot of additional grants." The board also discussed coordinating with a volunteer group, CHEER, which removes loose debris under a state permit, and forming trustee subcommittees for outreach and permitting to speed coordination with property owners.

In a separate announcement, trustees said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has agreed to conduct a levee review that includes data refinement, planning and a multi-day on-site assessment. Chair reported the review could help the district meet conditions for the PL 84-99 program, which provides post-flood assistance for levee owners who meet eligibility standards. Loop said the Army Corps visit would likely involve property-owner outreach and suggested Cal Fire drone imagery could help identify inaccessible levee sections in advance.

The board encouraged residents to attend the Board of Supervisors meeting or submit online comments to support the proposed project allocations; the chair emphasized the supervisors could change how funds are spent and public input may matter. Next procedural steps if supervisors approve include county submission to HCD, anticipated HCD review, and issuing RFPs to hire consultants for design and permitting work.