Flood Control - Santa Cruz LAFCO

Santa Cruz LAFCO: Countywide Service Review
Flood Protection and Stormwater Services
City of Scotts Valley
The City of Scotts Valley provides drainage services within the City’s boundary. Stormwater is
discharged into Carbonera Creek, its two tributaries, and a tributary of Bean Creek. The City has only
experienced minor flooding in localized areas in the past ten years, primarily due to debris plugging inlets
or culverts and localized infrastructure deficiencies. The City noted that all deficiencies have been
corrected where they affect residential or commercial areas. The City emphasizes pre-event debris
removal as a best management practice. The City noted that it has had a very limited number of claims
even though rainfall averages 50-inches per year.
The City’s Storm Drain Master Plan identifies areas requiring improvement and infrastructure needs.
Projects are implemented as impact fee funds become available. The City’s Capital Improvement
Program includes approximately $550,000 in storm drain projects through FY 2008-2009; however, no
projects are scheduled for FY 2004-2005 or FY 2005-2006.
One of the City’s goals for FY 2005-2006 is to continue to revise the application for the State-mandated
Stormwater Master Plan and receive approval of the plan. The City also intends to complete the permit
condition for the first year by June 30, 2006. Scotts Valley also included as a FY 20024-2005 goal to
increase the street sweeping frequency in the fall of 2004 to comply with the conditions of the Master
Plan and minimize accumulated debris being washed into storm drains and the creek during the first
storms of the rainy season.
City of Watsonville
The City of Watsonville provides flood protection and stormwater management services within the City’s
boundary. The City’s drainage system includes over 50 miles of storm drain pipes with 200 drop inlets
and 15 stormwater pump stations. There has been localized street flooding due to large amounts of
rainfall over a short period of time which exceeded the industry standards for design capacity. The City
noted that the greatest risk of significant flooding is due to insufficient carrying capacity of the Pajaro
River and Salsipuedes Creek.
Over the last several years the City has constructed five new stormwater pump stations and six new
stormwater retention basins. The City has also installed 2,500 feet of 54-inch diameter stormwater pipe.
Watsonville also installed a Web-based monitoring system to measure river and creek levels as well as
alarm/status of all stormwater pump stations.
Watsonville noted that the City’s biggest challenge and highest priority is the need for construction of a
regional flood protection project to prevent flooding from the Pajaro River, Salsipuedes Creek and
Corralitos Creek. The Army Corps of Engineers has predicted a flooding frequency of once every seven
years for Salsipuedes and Corralitos Creeks, and once every 13 years for the Pajaro River, based on the
existing, outdated levee system. The estimated economic damage associated with flooding events in the
Pajaro Valley is $24 million for the creeks, and $15 million for the river.
June 2005 – Public Review Draft Section 5 - 5