Pajaro River Bridge to Bay Feasibility Study

Project Overview

The Pajaro River Bridge to Bay Project will start with a feasibility study to identify solutions that reduce flood risks along the Pajaro River from State Route 1 to the Monterey Bay, protecting surrounding communities, farmlands, and critical infrastructure like the City of Watsonville’s Wastewater Treatment Facility and the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency’s Watsonville Area Water Recycling Facility. Although this river segment has limited flood protection, it is not included in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Pajaro River at Watsonville Project, which focuses on upstream levee improvements.

With grant funding support, the Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency (PRFMA) will engage stakeholders and the public to develop and evaluate a range of alternatives, advancing at least one preferred design that can move forward for use in grant applications for future design and construction phases. The evaluated design concepts will prioritize multi-benefit, nature-based solutions that aim to improve flood conveyance and reduce risks to human life, property, and infrastructure, enhance habitat and ecological resilience, and accommodate for future public access and recreation. This effort is a critical next step in complementing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ upstream flood protection investments.

Fast Facts:

  • The Project feasibility study is ongoing and is scheduled to be completed by March 2027 based on FEMA grant requirements.

  • Initial kick-off and stakeholder workshop meeting completed on June 22, 2026.

  • First project public outreach meeting was a part of PRFMA’s Flood Forum held at Pajaro Middle School on Tuesday, June 30, 2026.

  • Design and construction funds have yet to be secured.

Project Funding

This feasibility study is receiving $400,000 from two grants. First, a grant from the Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) Fiscal Year 2021 Build Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Program. The PRFMA is a grant subrecipient while the lead agency that was awarded this grant is the County of Santa Cruz. The local match requirements for the BRIC grant will be funded by the County of Santa Cruz Measure Q – Safe Drinking Water, Clean Beaches, Wildfire Risk Reduction and Wildlife Protection Act.