The
Pajaro River Watershed
Flood Prevention Authority
(Authority) has completed
Phase 3 of the four phase
Pajaro River Watershed
Study. The Phase 3 Report
outlines, summarizes,
and explains the progress
achieved to date within
the Pajaro River Watershed
Study.
Phase 1 consisted of modeling
both the hydrologic and
sediment regimes of the
watershed. The results
of Phase 1 provided a
better understanding of
the characteristics of
the watershed and changes
over time that affect
flooding frequency and
flooding potential in
the downstream reaches
of the Pajaro River.
Phase 2 identified project
alternatives that would
provide flood protection
for the Pajaro River from
Chittenden to Monterey
Bay from the 100-year
flood flows identified
in Phase 1. The Phase
2 Study projects were
developed to coordinate
with a concurrent Army
Corps of Engineers (Corps)
Lower Pajaro River flood
protection project.
After the conclusion of
Phase 2, the Corps identified
a 100-year flood protection
project for the Lower
Pajaro River without any
upstream projects.
The Corps 100-year flood
protection project is
based on the assumption
that the watershed conditions
(or current level of flood
attenuation provided in
the upper watershed) are
maintained. The Phase
1 model results highlighted
the natural flood attenuation
benefits of Soap Lake
and the critical importance
of maintaining those benefits
as part of any Pajaro
River flood protection
solution.
The focus of the Authority
work shifted to ensure
that the flows passing
through the Lower Pajaro
River Project would not increase
above the currently predicted
levels. The most direct way
to achieve this goal was
to preserve Soap Lake and
its attenuation capabilities.
Phase 3 and 4a defines
and documents the preferred
method to maintain the
Soap Lake attenuation
and storage capacity,
known as the Soap
Lake Floodplain Preservation
Project. In
Phase 3 Soap Lake was
hydraulically modeled
and the floodplain boundaries
defined. The impacts of
flooding and land use
preservation were examined
in compliance with the
California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) and
the cost of the Project
estimated.
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