WSAFCA Unveils Levee Improvements and New Pump Station

City, state, and federal partners gathered in West Sacramento to celebrate the completion of a critical new flood protection project: the Yolo Bypass East Levee North improvements and pumping station.

The facility addresses longstanding seepage issues that have impacted the area for years and improves overall system performance. Prior to development in the surrounding area, including the city's Public Works corporation yard, the site experienced regular ponding due to groundwater seepage.

This milestone was made possible thanks to Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07), who secured federal funding; the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), which led construction; and the West Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (WSAFCA), which led the design.

"Flood protection is not optional; it is essential. I know what's at stake, and that is why I have made flood protection one of my top priorities in Congress," said Congresswoman Matsui. "From the Folsom Dam to the Sacramento Weir, and right here in the Yolo Bypass, we are building a fully coordinated system where every piece works to keep our homes, businesses, farms, and communities safe."

"As you see with climate change, we need to build more climate-resistant infrastructure; protecting our residents, our businesses, and our future from catastrophic flooding," said Martha Guerrero, Mayor of West Sacramento.

In addition to resolving seepage concerns, the facility will reduce strain on the nearby Race Track pumping station, which was recently rehabilitated after years of deferred maintenance.

Projects like this, and several others currently in development, are the result of sustained federal advocacy.

Guerrero also thanked Matsui for her commitment to the project, her leadership, and unwavering advocacy since the project was first authorized in 2016.