The San Joaquin Area Flood Control Agency (SJAFCA) is a Joint Powers Authority that was created in May 1995 between the City of Stockton, San Joaquin County and the San Joaquin County Flood Control and Water Conservation District for the purpose of addressing flood protection for the City of Stockton and surrounding County area (see map). SJAFCA has a four member Board of Directors with two members from the Stockton City Council and two members from the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors.

SJAFCA’s first endeavor was to prevent the possible disaccreditation of levees and to improve local levees to meet Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) standards. As a result, SJAFCA constructed the Flood Protection Restoration Project (FPRP) which consisted of flood wall and levee improvements along 40 miles of existing channel levees, 12 miles of new levees, modifications to 24 bridges and the addition of two major detention basins and pumps.

Construction of the FPRP was completed in 1998, merely three and a half years after notification by FEMA that most of the City of Stockton would be remapped into a 100-year flood plain. SJAFCA formed an assessment district of more than 74,000 parcels to finance the $70 million project. One-time $700 assessments (average) per single family home were collected versus the approximately $350 per home of annual flood insurance premiums. In addition, SJAFCA established an annual Operations and Maintenance assessment for the upkeep of flood improvements. SJAFCA levees are maintained by the San Joaquin County Flood Control and Water Conservation District.

Section 211 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1996 authorized the local sponsor (SJAFCA) to construct flood control improvements and receive reimbursement for the federal share of project costs. The federal share of the plan approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Office of Management and Budget is estimated at $33.4 million. In 1998, SJAFCA received an appropriation of $12.6 million from the State of California for their share of the non-federal cost of the project. To date, SJAFCA has received $22.4 million in reimbursement from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and continues to seek the remainder of the approved federal reimbursement through the annual federal appropriations process.

New Challenges

Recent flooding disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina, have resulted in a reevaluation of local flood risk and flood protection. FEMA has undertaken a Map Modernization Program that has resulted in a levee recertification program with new and more stringent levee standards. SJAFCA is facing a number of challenges to assure flood protection facilities meet both State and Federal regulatory requirements.

Other challenges involve State legislation that went into effect in 2007 (Senate Bill 5), which proposes a 200-year level of flood protection for urbanized or urbanizing areas. New State and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ levee standards and criteria are imminent as the Department of Water Resources is currently undertaking intensive levee investigations. These activities, new mandates and evolving levee standards will continue to impact SJAFCA’s priorities.

SJAFCA works with San Joaquin County, other cities, and local reclamation districts to address flood protection and levee requirements in our area. SJAFCA coordinates and partners with State and Federal agencies to address FEMA’s Flood Insurance Rate Maps, levee standards, and flood protection issues.

For More Information:

San Joaquin Area Flood Control Agency

General Information

(209) 937-7900

SJAFCA Assessment District (Property Tax Information)

Willdan Financial (formerly MuniFinancial)

1-866-807-6864

Levee Maintenance

San Joaquin County Flood Control and Water Conservation District

(209) 468-9698

Flood Zone Information and Building Restrictions

for City of Stockton residents

(209) 937-8561

Flood Zone Information and Building Restrictions

for San Joaquin County residents

(209) 468-3060

National Flood Insurance Program Referral Center

1-888-379-9531

San Joaquin County Department of Public Works’

Flood Management Division

(209) 468-3060