Rep. Mike Levin Advances $26 Million for San Luis Rey River Project
Funds Will Increase Flood Protection for Oceanside & Repair Levee System
Washington, D.C.—Today, Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) advanced $26 million for the San Luis Rey River project in the government funding package that passed the House on a bipartisan vote. The funds will be used to increase flood protection for Oceanside residents by repairing the San Luis Rey River levee system and removing sediment in the river channel.
For years, Oceanside’s flood protection system has been deteriorating and neglected, threatening public safety. This funding will mitigate risks to better protect homes, businesses, and infrastructure. Furthermore, sediment removal from the river may be used to replenish sand on nearby beaches.
“For too long, Oceanside’s flood protection system has been unable to adequately protect residents, businesses, and infrastructure,” said Rep. Levin. “This funding will start to make much needed improvements. It will begin the work to upgrade the system, fix the levees, and provide much needed flood protection that will mitigate risk to nearby residents. I look forward to this funding coming to our community and making a real difference.”
The San Luis Rey River Project Flood Risk Reduction Project was authorized in 1970 with the intention of providing a 250-year level of flood protection. Unfortunately, various challenges associated with the project halted construction on several occasions, causing the project’s costs to increase. Additionally, the project’s challenges limited critical levee repair efforts and channel sediment removal work. Meanwhile, flood protection has dipped to a 70-year level, far below the 250-year level of protection envisioned in the project authorization.
The $26 million will be used to begin work towards sediment removal, levee repair, and potential sand plug removal. Funds will also be used for continued geotechnical analyses, environmental coordination, hydrology updates and hydraulic analysis, and the monitoring of both water quality and local species.
This investment builds on the more than $1 billion secured by Rep. Levin in federal funding since entering Congress in 2019. The package that includes these funds now heads to the Senate, where it is expected to pass. It will then need to be signed by the President.
###