Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency - PRFMA

09/23/2026

As we prepare for the upcoming rainy season, Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent executive order helps streamline critical flood preparedness work, including debris and vegetation removal in the Pajaro River watershed.

For PRFMA, this allows important projects to move forward more efficiently to help reduce flood risk in our community.

🔗 Read the full executive order from the Governor's Office here: https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/09/21/governor-newsom-proclaims-state-of-emergency-to-bolster-statewide-el-nino-preparedness-protect-california/

📩 Have questions? Call us at (831) 204-3000 or email [email protected].

09/18/2026

Throughout the dry season, PRFMA crews work to clear excess vegetation and debris along the levees and other areas of the Pajaro River flood control system to make sure the system is maintained and ready for the rainy months ahead.

This work helps to:
• Remove debris and vegetation that could interfere with the overall system
• Keep our levees accessible for maintenance and inspections
• Identify and address potential maintenance issues

This ongoing maintenance is a vital part of PRFMA’s year-round work to keep our communities prepared for flood season.

📩 Have questions? Call us at (831) 204-3000 or email [email protected]

09/10/2026

Preparing for flood season means taking a closer look at the infrastructure that helps move water through the entire flood control system.

As part of our ongoing maintenance work, PRFMA crews inspect and maintain drainage structure by clearing sediment and debris that’s accumulated in the pipes.

This work helps to keep the drainage system functioning properly, reduces blockages that interfere with water flow, and keeps our communities safe during the rainy season.

This kind of routine maintenance may not always be visible, but it’s an important part of how we prepare for flood season!

📩 Have questions? Call us at (831) 204-3000 or email [email protected]

09/03/2026

Preparing for Flood Season: Inspecting Our Levees

Ahead of the rainy season, PRFMA crews are out inspecting levees and flood control infrastructure throughout the river system to identify potential maintenance needs, including:

• Erosion
• Excessive vegetation
• Animal burrows
• Debris
• Access issues
• Other conditions that could affect the flood control system

Identifying and addressing these issues during the dry season helps keep our flood control infrastructure maintained and ready for flood season.

📩 Have questions? Call us at (831) 204-3000 or email [email protected].

08/27/2026

With a strong El Niño potentially bringing a wetter winter to the Pajaro Valley, PRFMA is taking extra precautions ahead of the upcoming flood season.

PRFMA Executive Director Mark Strudley recently spoke with Lookout Santa Cruz about the steps the Agency is taking to help strengthen our flood preparedness, including:

• Routine levee inspections and maintenance
• Vegetation removal
• Sediment clearing
• Evaluating additional measures to strengthen vulnerable areas of the flood control system

Taking action now helps PRFMA stay ready for whatever winter may bring.

Read the full Lookout Santa Cruz article in the post below to learn more about PRFMA’s efforts ahead of the winter season.

📩 Have questions? Call us at (831) 204-3000 or email [email protected].

Officials at the Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency say they are making “more aggressive” winter preparations as climate experts are forecasting a strong El Niño.

08/20/2026

At PRFMA, getting ready for the rainy season is a year-round effort.

Even during the dry months, our crews are busy:
• Inspecting levees and flood control infrastructure
• Removing vegetation and debris that could obstruct water flow
• Maintaining access roads and drainage areas
• Identifying maintenance needs
• Coordinating with local and regional partners

This work helps ensure that our system is ready when it’s needed most.

Stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes looks as we prepare for the upcoming flood season!

📩Have questions? Call us at (831) 204-3000, or email [email protected]

08/13/2026

Operations & Maintenance Spotlight: Overgrown vegetation in and along the river system harms more than just the view of the river. Dense vegetation can restrict water flow, reduce visibility for necessary maintenance activities, and makes it more difficult to respond to levee emergencies in a timely manner.

At PRFMA, we regularly manage vegetation in and around the Pajaro River system as part of our ongoing operation and maintenance activities to keep our floodways clear, allowing crews to identify and address any problems before they become a public safety risk. Crews will be out in late summer and Fall to conduct this work ahead of this year’s winter rains.

📩Have questions? Call us at (831) 204-3000, or email [email protected]

08/04/2026

Thanks to all who attended last week's Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Community Meeting!

Your feedback will help shape future planning efforts to better prepare for flooding and other natural hazards and strengthen our community's resilience.

The draft LHMP is still available for public review until Friday, August 14. Access the draft LHMP at https://www.prfma.org/local-hazard-mitigation-plan.

📩 Questions? Call us at (831) 204-3000 or email [email protected].

07/27/2026

Join us on Thursday, July 30 to share your thoughts on the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP). The LHMP is a guide to reducing the impacts of natural hazards, including flooding, in the Pajaro River area.

Your feedback will help shape future planning efforts to better prepare for flooding and other natural hazards and strengthen our community's resilience.

Date: Thursday, July 30, 2026
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Watsonville City Hall Community Room
275 Main Street, 4th Floor, Watsonville, CA

We hope to see you there!

The draft LHMP will be available for public review July 24 - August 14. Access the draft LHMP at https://www.prfma.org/local-hazard-mitigation-plan.

📩 Questions? Call us at (831) 204-3000 or email [email protected].

07/20/2026

Did you know? Digouts are one of the top threats to levee safety.

Digouts remove soil from the levee, creating weak spots that increase the risk of erosion, seepage, and levee failure during high water events. Compromised levees not only increase flood risks for surrounding communities but also affect the safe flow of water throughout the entire river system.

At PRFMA, we’re working to prevent unauthorized digging and repair existing digouts to help protect public safety, maintain flood protection infrastructure, and support the long-term health of the Pajaro River System.

📩Have questions? Call us at (831) 204-3000, or email [email protected]