LCMA Assessment Adopted by SJAFCA Board

On Thursday, June 15, the Board of Directors for the San Joaquin Area Flood Control Agency (SJAFCA) adopted the Levee Construction and Maintenance Assessment after it won support from property owners with 58 percent of the weighted vote. READ MORE.

Resources & Information Materials

Final Ballot Tabulation Report
Appeals Process

Ballot Information Guide
ESPANOL Ballot Information Guide
Frequently Asked Questions

Newsletter
Proposed Assessment Boundary Map (overall)
Proposed Assessment Boundary Map (by service category)
Zone 9 Maintained Levees and Channels Map
Lower San Joaquin River Project Map (levee improvements)
Preliminary Engineer's Report

Email: LCMA@sjgov.org
Assessment Hotline: (209) 475-7010

What Problems are we trying to avoid? 

California’s weather is becoming more extreme. Rapid shifts between too little and too much water can lead to serious flooding. At the same time, state and federal regulations for flood protection are changing and becoming stricter.

As a result, properties in Stockton face two types of risk:

• Physical flooding 
• Financial impacts from changes to state and federal flood protection regulations (mandatory flood insurance and building restrictions)

The best way to defend against both risks in the greater Stockton-metropolitan region is to improve and properly maintain levees.

Did you know? In January 2023, Stockton received one-half of its annual precipitation in only 17 days after a series of atmospheric rivers hit the region. Atmospheric Rivers are responsible for 80% of flood damages over the past 40 years in the western United States.

Proposed Assessment Will Fund Levee Construction and Maintenance

The San Joaquin Area Flood Control Agency (SJAFCA) is responsible for reducing flood risk through planning, financing and implementing projects and programs to improve flood protection. The San Joaquin County Flood Control and Water Conservation Agency Zone 9 (Zone 9), a division of San Joaquin County, maintains urban levees that protect approximately 90,000 Stockton properties.

The agencies implemented a Levee Construction and Maintenance property assessment to:

1. Fund the local cost share (10%) for the $1.4 billion Lower San Joaquin River Project
2. Ensure continued FEMA accreditation of the levees protecting North and Central Stockton
3. Address an annual $1.5 million shortfall between existing and needed revenues for the proper maintenance of existing levees

Improving Levees

• SJAFCA is partnering with the US Army Corps of Engineers and the CA Central Valley Flood Protection Board on the $1.4 billion Lower San Joaquin River Project to protect North and Central Stockton.
• The project will strengthen 23 miles of levees along the Calaveras and San Joaquin Rivers and move the community closer to a 200-year level of flood protection.
• Ninety percent (estimated $1.26 billion) of all project costs will be paid for with state and federal funding.
• The community must provide the remaining 10 percent cost share (approximately $140 million)
• SJAFCA will also implement other improvements to ensure levees throughout the assessment district meet FEMA requirements for 100-year flood protection.

Calaveras River Levee Damage - January 2023

• Zone 9 maintains 112 miles of levees that protect urban areas (Project levees).
• Levees must be maintained to strict state and federal standards to retain FEMA accreditation and eligibility for federal emergency funding following a flood event.
• Adequate funding allows Zone 9 to comply with state and federal regulations for:

• Removal of debris that obstructs storm water and flood flows, or that otherwise damages levees and channels
• Vegetation removal and control
• Rodent removal and control
• Levee patrol during high water warning and flood stages
• Resurfacing of levee maintenance and patrol roads
• Minor repair of levee embankments and erosion protection
• Inspection and repair of gates
• Participation in and reporting for state and federal inspections and evaluations
• State and federal permit application and compliance

Properties that receive benefit from the Lower San Joaquin River Project, FEMA Accredited levees and/or maintenance of Zone 9 levees will be assessed to fund levee construction and maintenance activities. View the LCMA Boundary Map to see if your property is included. 

• Each property will be assessed only for the benefit it receives.
• Benefits for levee improvements include avoidance of flood damages and ongoing FEMA accreditation of Project levees.
• Benefits of levee maintenance include the avoidance of flood damages.
• Not all properties benefit from levee improvement services. Some properties only benefit from levee maintenance services.
• The proposed assessment for the majority of single-family residential properties is $100 or less per year 

Assessments differ based upon land use type, structure square footage, size of parcel, location of property, and depth of flooding.

Questions? Contact us! 
LCMA Hotline: (209) 475-7010
Email: LCMA@sjgov.org