$1.95 billion a flood risk reduction project breaks ground in Stockton
(FOX40.COM) — City, state, and county officials broke ground in Stockton on Friday as they announced the beginning of the Lower San Joaquin River Project.
At the Tenmile Slough, a levee just behind Stockton's Brookside community, officials marked the first phase of the nearly $2 billion multi-year flood risk protection project.
Those in attendance at a ceremony included Representative Josh Harder, Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom, California Department of Water Resources, San Joaquin Area Flood Control Agency, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, along with Stockton city and San Joaquin County leaders.
The first phase is set to stretch up to 10 miles.
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Lt. Colonel Ike Ukachi with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says it's an approach that provides enhanced protection for approximately 264,000 people, safeguards roughly 71,000 acres, and protects an estimated $21 billion in property and critical infrastructure.
Officials say the work is set to take place over the next several years.
'Together we'll be making improvements to the TS 30 Levee, including installation of a soil-bentonite cutoff wall that will leverage 50 feet deep to prevent water from seeping in or under the levee and into the community,' Ukachi said. 'We'll also reshape the levee, add rock armor to the water side of the levee, and construct a new maintenance access road.'
Congressman Josh Harder says a project like this was long overdue, and that recent storm events in other areas of San Joaquin County, in part, prompted this call to action.
'We saw flooding in Downtown Stockton a couple of years ago,' Harder said. 'We saw a flood in Acampo. I actually went and visited those homes that were completely underwater just two years ago.'
Officials say the costs are set to be divided between the county and the state.
'My hope is that we can actually get more federal support through the Army Corps to make sure that it's not just the City of Stockton and the county that's picking up the bill because this project benefits across all of California,' Harder said.
But some residents shared concerns.
'We have never flooded from the West. It is tidal, and the Delta is no threat to Stockton,' said Stockton resident Sheller Gregerson.
In response, officials said the levee project is a critical measure to prevent any possible catastrophic events in the future.
'There are absolutely some concerns, but 98 percent of the homes and businesses in Stockton are in a flood plain,' Harder said.
Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom (D-13) said she encourages residents to reach out to local officials to share their concerns.
'It's important, I understand that folks may not feel that it's necessary, but we are going to follow the science, we're going to follow the data, and we know that there's a lot of risk in this state, and we don't want to wait until it's too late to start making those investments,' Ransom said.
Officials say this first phase of the project is set to take place during the next year or longer depending on progress.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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