California breaks ground on critical flood protection project in the Central Valley
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Apr 18, 2025

California breaks ground on critical flood protection project in the Central Valley

What you need to know: Governor Gavin Newsom's Administration continues to make significant investments in protecting California's communities from the threat of climate change and extreme weather conditions with groundbreaking of a $1.95 billion flood protection project.

STOCKTON – California, along with federal and local partners, today broke ground in Stockton on a critical infrastructure project that will improve flood protection for tens of thousands of Californians and billions of dollars in property in the Central Valley.

The groundbreaking ceremony marks the start of construction for the Tenmile Slough levee project in Stockton. It is a critical component of the larger Lower San Joaquin River Project, a $1.95 billion project funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the California Department of Water Resources, and the San Joaquin Area Flood Control Agency. Once completed, the project will provide improved flood protection for 122,000 residents and $28.7 billion in property along the San Joaquin River for the North and Central Stockton Area.

"Investing in California's water infrastructure benefits us all. I am grateful for the partnership here from the federal government to help us prepare our communities for extreme weather caused by climate change and prevent future disasters."

Governor Gavin Newsom

The Tenmile Slough levee segment is rated as the most critically deficient in the Central Valley levee system. Following historic flooding in 1997, DWR and the Central Valley Flood Protection Board identified significant flood risk in the San Joaquin River Basin. Federal, state and local partners worked together to evaluate and design the necessary improvements to respond to these risks.

The Lower San Joaquin River Project is a crucial part of the system-wide flood risk reduction effort outlined in the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan, which provides a comprehensive framework for improving flood protection in the Sacramento and San Joaquin River Basins. This project represents a critical milestone in efforts to protect urban communities, one of many focus areas of the Plan.

"Protecting the people and economy of San Joaquin County from the devastation of extreme flooding is enormously important. Projects like this pay for themselves many times over as shifts between extreme wet and dry conditions become more common," said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. "California is committed to making these investments in flood infrastructure across the state to adapt to our new climate reality."

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The Lower San Joaquin River Project is just one of several major flood control projects in the state that collectively represent billions of dollars of new and improved infrastructure to protect communities, including:
  • The Pajaro River Flood Risk Management Project, a $600 million project that will improve flood protection for the communities of Pajaro and Watsonville. The State will cover all non-federal costs, approximately $210 million.
  • The American River Common Features Project, a $1.85 billion project that will improve flood protection for the greater Sacramento area and over 660,000 people.
  • The recently completed Yuba Basin ($440 million) and Sutter Basin ($320 million) flood projects that reduced flood risk for 135,000 people.

The Governor, in partnership with the Legislature, has invested a total of $560 million over the past two state budgets to support flood response and projects to protect communities from future flooding.

"Levees play a vitally important role in safeguarding Delta communities, farmland, and water supplies," said Senator Jerry McNerney (SD-5). "Yet many of the Delta's 1,100 miles of levees need repair or reinforcement to protect against flooding due to climate change," said Sen. Jerry McNerney, whose 5th Senate District includes the heart of the Delta region. "The Tenmile Slough levee project in Stockton is an essential step in fortifying our aging levee system, and I thank Governor Newsom, the California Department of Water Resources, the San Joaquin Area Flood Control Agency, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for their support of and contribution to this crucial project."

"Today marks a major milestone for the City of Stockton and our entire region. The start of construction on the Tenmile Slough levee is essential to delivering the flood protection our community needs and deserves," said Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom (AD-13). "This pivotal step reflects our long-term commitment to public safety, climate resilience, and infrastructure investment. I'm proud to represent this district and to show what's possible through strong federal, state, and local partnerships. This is what progress looks like: smart, united, forward-thinking investments that safeguard our communities and build a stronger future. We're one step closer to delivering the safety and security our residents depend on."

This project is a key part of Governor Newsom's build more, faster agenda, delivering infrastructure upgrades and thousands of jobs across the state. Find projects building your community at build.ca.gov.

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