Santa Barbara County Public Works Department

5 Year Capital Improvement Program (2007-2012)

Santa Maria

Blosser Basin - Estimated Cost: $380,000
This project consists of constructing a pipeline to drain the Blosser Basin. The Blosser Basin is currently drained and dried out by either percolation through its earthen bottom or by pumping water out of the Basin and into the Blosser Ditch, an earthen channel that takes drainage towards the Santa Maria River. Water introduced into the Blosser Ditch tends to promote vegetation that must be continually maintained. The constructed pipeline will take water from the Basin to the Santa Maria River without allowing the water to flow within the Blosser Ditch.

Bradley Channel Improvements - Estimated Cost: $1,505,000
This project consists of improving two sections of the Bradley Flood Control Channel in the City of Santa Maria. One section is approximately 1,750 linear feet of earthen channel located between Highway 101 and State Route 135 that will be lined with a concrete trapezoidal channel. The second section is approximately 960 linear feet of earthen channel located between East Donovan Road and Magellan Drive which will also be lined with a concrete trapezoidal channel.
Each year, maintenance staff removes debris and sediment deposits from the channel bottom and obstructive vegetation along the banks of the unlined channels in order to maintain channel capacity and reduce flood hazards. Completion of this project will reduce future maintenance costs and minimize the flood hazard to adjacent properties.

Kovar Basin Expansion - Estimated Cost: $1,575,000
This project consists of an expansion of the existing Kovar Basin, a storm water detention facility, to provide greater storage capacity.
During extreme runoff events, existing storm water control facilities located beyond the westerly urban limits of the City of Santa Maria tend to become overwhelmed, thus leading to a breakout of uncontrolled flood flows that traverse agricultural property.
Construction of this project will provide a greater volume of storm water storage and thus minimize the frequency of the breakout of uncontrolled storm water flows.

Santa Maria River Levee Reinforcement - Estimated Cost: $21,425,000
This project will provide a secondary backup system to the Santa Maria River Levee in case of levee failure. The first phase of this project could consist of placing a sheetpile wall, or other alternative, the length of the levee between Suey Crossing and US Highway 101, a distance of approximately 3,300 feet. This will provide flood protection to the adjacent neighborhoods as well as the City of Santa Maria should the existing levee fail.
The Santa Maria River Levee was constructed by the US Army Corps of Engineers between 1959 and completed in 1963. The Levee is now over 40 years old. The Levee is 24 mile long and protects the City of Santa Maria as well as thousands of acres of prime agricultural land from the Santa Maria River. The Levee is constructed of sand with a rock rip rap facing. The rip rap facing has degraded over the years to the point that it has reduced effectiveness in withstanding the forces of the river.

Santa Maria River Riparian Enhancement - Estimated Cost: $540,000
This project consists of planting willows along sections of the levee that are vulnerable to river erosion, thus helping to protect the levee while creating valuable riparian habitat. This is a cooperative project between the Flood Control District, the Cachuma Resource Conservation District and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation administering the grant funding which is part of the UNOCAL Guadalupe settlement. The project will be done in phases extending over five years to be completed in June 2008.

Unit Two Channel Improvements - Estimated Cost: $750,000
This project is intended to increase the hydraulic capacity of the Unit 2 (earthen lined) channel by realigning the channel to remove a sharp S curve "kink" and widening approximately 5000 linear feet of channel. The section of channel considered for widening varies in existing bottom width of 8' to 12' and is preliminarily planned to be increased to a bottom width of 16'. This project will require real property acquisition from, and coordination with, adjacent farm land property owners.

Orcutt

Airport Ditch Lining - Estimated Cost: $615,000
This project consists of replacing a portion of the earthen-lined trapezoidal shaped Airport Ditch with concrete. The project is located along Skyway Drive in Santa Maria. The ditch is subject to erosion and deposition in downstream reaches that subsequently require cleaning. Lining a portion of this ditch with concrete will minimize this on-going problem.

Mud Lakes Basin Siphon Improvement - Estimated Cost: $880,000
This project will remove the 12" diameter (siphon) pipe outlet works of the Mud Lake Basins and replace it with approximately 1300 linear feet of new 18" (gravity draining) pipe. The existing outlet works operates as a siphon, which requires manual priming of the system in order to drain the basins. On occasion, maintenance crews have been unavailable to operate the siphon system during storm events, resulting in the overtopping of the basins. The new gravity draining outlet pipe will eliminate the need to manually operate the siphon system.

RB7 Outlet Works - Estimated Cost: $185,000
This project consists of acquiring permanent easements and constructing a storm drain under Blosser Road south of Foster Road. The new storm drain will be approximately 300 feet long and will discharge flow from a future retention basin (RB7) to be built by the Santa Maria Airport District. The existing drainage facilities are inadequate for the amount of stormwater runoff received. During storm events, excess storm water runoff inundates Blosser Road and adjacent properties. Construction of this culvert will reduce flooding impacts.

Los Alamos

San Antonio Creek Improvements - Estimated Cost: $1,470,000
This project consists of channel improvements along a portion of San Antonio Creek in the community of Los Alamos. The current Federal Emergency Management Agency floodmap shows a large portion of the developed properties subject to flooding during a 100-year flood event. This project would provide increased channel capacity and flood protection for the properties adjacent to the creek, thus reducing the flood risks to these properties and regulatory floodway limits.

Santa Ynez

Faraday Storm Drain - Estimated Cost: $980,000
This project consists of acquiring easements and constructing approximately 1,920 feet of storm drain west of Faraday Street between Olive Street and Pine Street in Santa Ynez. This neighborhood is in a low-lying area between two existing drainage channels and currently experiences repeated flooding during rain events. This storm drain will convey flood water to Zanja de Cota Creek.

South Coast

Atascadero Creek Lining Repair - Estimated Cost: $850,000
This project consists of constructing a 4 foot deep sheetpile cutoff wall along the existing concrete slope lining on Atascadero Creek in Goleta. The existing concrete slope lining was constructed in the mid 1960's to protect adjacent residential subdivisions. Over the years, the channel has degraded several feet exposing the bottom of the concrete slope liner. Without any additional scour protection, the existing liner is subject to failure during storm events. Sections of the liner have been damaged and were reconstructed following the 1995 and 1998 winter storms.
Construction of this project is necessary to protect the existing concrete slope lining and minimize future damage. This project will be funded by South Coast Flood Zone benefit assessment revenues.

Las Vegas & San Pedro Creeks at Calle Real - Estimated Cost: $8,110,000
This project consists of the construction of two improved reinforced concrete box culverts (RCB). The first starts 300 feet east of Valdez Ave. along San Pedro Creek, and crosses Calle Real, Highway (HWY) 101 and the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR). The second RCB starts east of Vega Dr. along the Las Vegas Creek and crosses HWY 101 and the UPRR. During storm events, Calle Real and HWY 101 are closed and numerous homes and businesses are subject to flooding. The cleanup costs associated with the flooding in past storm events are significant. Construction of these culverts will greatly improve the capacity of the drainage system and reduce the flood hazard to adjacent properties.

San Jose Creek Channel Improvements - Estimated Cost: $2,825,000
This project consists of channel modifications to San Jose Creek downstream of Hollister Avenue to increase channel capacity. The modifications will primarily affect the top of the banks of the existing channel extending approximately 3,500 feet downstream of Hollister Avenue. The end result of this project is the removal of large portions of Old Town Goleta from the 100-year flood zone.

Mission Creek - Estimated Cost: $31,845,000
This project is located along Mission Creek from Canon Perdido St. to Cabrillo Blvd. in the City of Santa Barbara. The Lower Mission Creek project improves various channel locations with widenings and bridge replacements in order to increase capacity. A park-like, open space environment is incorporated in the design. Completion of this project will reduce flooding and property damage adjacent to lower Mission Creek during large storm events.
This is an Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) flood control project. The ACOE will fund up to 50% of the total project cost. The local cost share of this project is being funded by the South Coast Flood Zone benefit assessment revenues and by the City of Santa Barbara in accordance with a cost sharing agreement.

Via Rueda Interceptor Storm Drain - Estimated Cost: $965,000
This project consists of constructing a 36" diameter storm drain above Via Rueda that will intercept storm flows from an unimproved portion of the Vieja Drive Road Right of Way and convey those storm flows to Atascadero Creek. The existing drainage facilities above the Via Rueda neighborhood are inadequate, causing damage to the neighborhood as well as Flood Control owned and maintained facilities constructed as part of the tract development. Upon completion of this project, and by agreement between the Flood Control District and the residents on Via Rueda, the District will quitclaim ownership of the Flood Control facilities constructed with the tract to the property owners, thus reducing the Districts maintenance obligations.
This project is being coordinated with the Puente Drive Bridge Replacement project currently planned by the Transportation Division of the Public Works Department. This coordination may result in combining a portion of the storm drain work required for the bridge replacement with this Flood Control project, potentially reducing costs for both projects.

West Side Storm Drain Phase II - Estimated Cost: $4,870,000
This project is a cooperative project between the Flood Control District and the City of Santa Barbara to construct the remaining phases of an underground storm drain in the City of Santa Barbara. During frequent rainfall events several of the streets and intersections in the City of Santa Barbara's Westside community experience inundation and closures. The Westside Storm Drain is a major storm water collection system designed to alleviate this common flood problem.
The project was planned to be constructed in phases. The first phase of this project was completed in 1997. Phase II will completed by the end of the 2006-07 fiscal year. Phase III consists of the construction of the upper reaches of the overall project. Construction of Phase III will reduce the frequent inundation of roadways and adjacent properties. The storm drain pipe sizes range from 30 inches to 66 inches in diameter.

San Ysidro Creek Realignment - Estimated Cost: $320,000
In the mid 1950's when Highway 101 was constructed, Caltrans realigned San Ysidro Creek resulting in abrupt bends forming in the creek immediately upstream of North Jameson Lane. The condition has led to the accumulation of debris at this location in significant storm events. This project will remove the abrupt bends in the creek and promote a more hydraulically efficient alignment. The completed North Jameson Lane Bridge Reconstruction Project took into account this future alignment of the San Ysidro Creek.

Gobernador Debris Basin - Estimated Cost: $700,000
This project will modify the Gobernador Debris Basin by replacing the earthen embankment, grouted rock spillway and concrete low flow discharge pipe with a natural bottom open channel and concrete restrictor walls. The earthen embankment and low flow pipe are not conducive to fish passage. This project is intended to improve the basins function by passing sediment through the basin while retaining the more critical, larger, debris as well as improve fish passage. Carpinteria Creek and its tributary Gobernador Creek have been identified by fish studies as having prime potential to re-establish habitat for steelhead trout. The National Marine Fisheries Service has requested that the Flood Control District consider options to modify the Gobernador Debris Basin to provide a more passable condition for fish.
This project has received $88,000 in funding for preliminary engineering and permitting efforts from a California Coastal Conservancy grant and $156,805 in funding for construction and construction administration from the CA Department of Fish and Game's Fisheries Restoration grant program.

Lower Arroyo Paredon Basin - Estimated Cost: $3,525,000
This project consists of acquiring an easement over a portion of land along Arroyo Paredon Creek north of Foothill Road. The easement area is approximately 5 acres in the southeast corner of a 54.2 acre parcel. The District would use this property to construct and maintain a debris basin. This basin would be designed to capture the type of large debris that typically comes down the creeks in this area during heavy rainfall events. This type of debris has plugged the bridge on Foothill Road (Hwy 192) in the past, with subsequent redirection of the creek, which has resulted in flood damage to adjacent homes and downstream properties.

Padaro Lane Interceptor - Estimated Cost: $1,110,000
This project is located adjacent to the coastline in western Carpinteria Valley. The intent of this project is to alleviate some of the chronic flooding that occurs between Arroyo Paredon Creek and the eastern terminus of Padaro Lane. Proposed options are to intercept and divert storm water away from the flood prone areas, construct a retention basin upstream of Padaro Lane or improve existing drainage courses.

COMPLETED CAPITAL PROJECTS
(Does not include storm repair projects.)

Santa Maria

Blosser Basin Bypass Gate Box - Completed 2001
This project consisted of the construction of a gate box on the 48" pipe that connects the Bradley Channel with the outlet channel from Blosser Basin. This allows the diversion of water back into Blosser Basin.

Blosser Channel Lining - Completed 2002
This project consisted of constructing concrete channel improvements along Blosser Road from Alvin Ave. to Blosser Basin.

Getty/Kovar/Hobbs Basin Interconnect - Completed 2006
This project consisted of the installation of a 24-inch storm drain pipe and slide gates to interconnect the three basins. This provides our maintenance crews the ability to control water levels in the three basins.

Kovar Basin Bypass - Complete 1996
The project consisted of constructing a concrete structure containing gate valves that will allow water coming from the Adams Park Basin to be diverted during maintenance activities.

Prell Road Retention Basin - Completed 2002
This project consisted of the construction of a large retention basin on the east side of HWY 101 in Santa Maria at Prell Rd. in order to reduce peak flows through the City of Santa Maria and associated flooding. A new concrete box culvert was constructed under Hwy 101 from this basin. Construction of this project utilized Hazard Mitigation Grant Funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

West Green Canyon Storm Drain - Completed 2006
This project consisted of the construction of a storm drain in Santa Maria running from a basin located at the intersection of A Street and Battles Road north to Main Street and then west to the West Main Channel which runs to the Santa Maria River.

Orcutt

Lakeview Storm Drain - Completed 1996
This project consisted of the construction of a storm drain extension in Lakeview Road from Hillview Road to Marvin Avenue.

Patterson Storm Drain - Complete 1997
The project consisted of extending an existing 21-inch diameter storm drain for a distance of approximately 500 feet between Orcutt Road and Martin Avenue in the town of Orcutt, and constructing two catch basins at the upstream terminus. The cost of this project was split 50/50 with the Roads Division of Public Works.

Santa Ynez Valley

La Pita Place Drainage Improvements - Completed 2002
This project consisted of constructing drainage improvements near La Pita Place in Buellton in order to intercept and convey runoff to an existing retention basin.

Lompoc

College-Walnut Storm Drain - Completed 2003
This project consisted of the construction of two storm drain extensions in the City of Lompoc. One in College Avenue from A Street to D Street and one in Walnut Avenue from 3rd Street to A Street.

Lompoc Valley

Santa Rosa Creek Channel Stabilization Project - Completed 2002
This project consisted of the construction of an earthen embankment and channelization of the creek.

South Coast

Carpinteria Marsh Project - Completed 2005
The project consisted of improvements to Santa Monica and Franklin channels through the Carpinteria marsh; construction of earthen levees and floodwalls to protect against flooding of adjacent developed properties.

Cravens Lane Storm Drain - Completed 2002
This project consisted of the construction of an underground storm drain and drop inlets on Cravens Lane in the Carpinteria area. The storm drain intercepts a portion of flows from Cravens Lane and direct them to the Franciscan Sediment Basin.

El Encanto Debris Basin - Completed 2004
This project consisted of improving storm water routing and debris removal by upgrading an existing debris basin with retaining walls & an access ramp, located on Micheltorena Street near California Avenue.

Encina Drain - Completed 2001
This project consisted of construction of a reinforced concrete box culvert under Calle Real to Las Vegas Creek near the Calle Real Shopping Center.

Franciscan Culvert Extension - Completed 1999
This project constructed a box culvert under Via Real and Highway 101 from an existing basin on the north side of Via Real to an existing earthen channel located south of the freeway.

Franciscan Sediment Basin - Completed 2002
The project consisted of the construction a concrete lined channel and a sediment basin upstream of the existing basin adjacent to Kim's Market.

Montecito Creek Debris Basin Project
This project was completed in September 2002 and won an APWA - Central Coast Chapter award for an evironmental project between $2 - $10 million. For a photo of the completed project, click here: MontecitoDebris Basin Photo

Old San Jose Creek Improvements - Completed 2002
This project consisted of conveyance improvements to the existing natural drainage channel from South Street to San Jose Creek channel. The project involved grading, landscape revegetation, and the removal/enlarge of existing bridge structures provide increased flood capacity of this natural creek channel.

Serenidad Interceptor Channel - Completed 2003
This project consisted of the construction of a 6-foot wide concrete interceptor channel behind several homes in the vicinity of Serenidad Place in Goleta. The new channel replaced an existing v-ditch that had proven inadequate in prior flood events.

Venado Drive - Completed 1998
This project consisted of the construction of a storm drain in Venado Drive which drains to an existing open channel to the south.

West Side Storm Drain Phase I - Completed 1997
This project consisted of the construction of a storm drain in west side area of Santa Barbara to reduce street flooding. This was the first phase in a three phase project.