Lofgren Secures Over $54 Million for Pajaro River Flood Protection As El Niño Is Expected to Strengthen

November 2, 2026 Press Release WATSONVILLE, CA — Today, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) delivered a $54,830,000 check for the Pajaro River Flood Risk Management Project, one of her 13 community projects she submitted for the Fiscal Year 2026 congressional appropriations cycle. This is the largest single community project that Lofgren secured this year, which is being completed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) San Francisco District, in partnership with the Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency (PRFMA). Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) also requested congressional funding for this project. “With El Niño expected to intensify in the early months of 2027, it’s critical that the residents and businesses along the Pajaro River have necessary flood protection,” said Rep. Lofgren . “Last year, I was proud to announce nearly $40 million for levee and floodwall construction in Watsonville, and I’m proud to have submitted this additional $54 million as one of my community projects this year. That’s going to help save lives and property, and I’m proud to have worked with Senators Padilla and Schiff to prioritize this project funding.” “Consistent funding for the Pajaro River flood control project is critically important, and we are grateful to Rep. Lofgren for  her work to keep the project moving forward and fulfilling our commitments to the vulnerable residents and businesses in the Pajaro Valley,” said Mark Strudley, Executive Director of PRFMA . “Future improvements to the levee will make a real difference in reducing flood risks and protecting the people who call Watsonville and the Pajaro Valley home,” said Watsonville City Manager Tamara Vides. This is an investment in the safety, stability, and future of our community. We are thankful for the advocacy and support provided by Congresswoman Lofgren.” The residents and businesses of Watsonville and Pajaro have been waiting for 50 years for flood protection and during that time have suffered significant damage and loss of life due to weather events. On March 11, 2023, a serious levee failure resulted in the evacuation of more than 2,000 people in the Town of Pajaro, 200 water rescues, significant flooding of farms, and closure of Highway 1. The farms impacted by flooding are vital contributors to the regional agricultural industry, where none of the fruit and vegetable crops are federally subsidized and floods can result in the loss of 2-3 growing seasons. According to the National Weather Service, El Niño continues to strengthen with a strong-to-very strong El Niño likely through January-March 2027. Lofgren has urged Californians to prepare for storm season and sign up for emergency alerts. Tips and resources for El Niño can be viewed on her website . Rep. Lofgren’s community project submissions this year have delivered a total of $58,022,000 for Watsonville and Santa Cruz County. This includes $1.2 million to renovate the Watsonville Veterans Hall, $1,092,000 to replace Watsonville’s wastewater infrastructure, and $900,000 for the Sí Se Puede Behavioral Health Center.