NEWS: Sens. Schiff, Padilla Helps Deliver $54 Million in Federal Funding for Pajaro River Flood Risk Project, Part of More than $250 Million Secured for California

Schiff and Padilla secure federal funding to support Watsonville and Pajaro's flood protection efforts, to protect residents, businesses, and infrastructure

Washington, D.C. - Today, Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla (both D-Calif.) announced that they secured $54 million in federal funding for the Pajaro River Flood Risk Project in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. The new federal investment will increase flood protection for Watsonville and Pajaro residents by reconstructing failing flood control levees along the Pajaro River and its tributaries. This funding is part of the $254,457,366 in total Congressionally Directed Spending funding that Schiff delivered for California for the 2026 fiscal year, with the passage of recent funding bills.

The funding announcement comes as last year, President Trump directly targeted California and other blue states by excluding critical Army Corps of Engineers construction investments from the agency's work plan, including the Pajaro River Floor Risk project, in favor of diverting investments to red states. At the time, during a press conference with Appropriations Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-Wash), Senators Schiff and Padilla blasted the President's decision to threaten millions of vulnerable people from both parties whose lives are endangered by floods.

"I'm proud to deliver federal funding for critical flood protection improvements for communities across our state that are most at risk," said Senator Adam Schiff. "Watsonville and Pajaro residents have waited decades for upgraded flood protection systems, and experienced significant damage and even loss of life in the process. It's time that these federal dollars reach the Watsonville and Pajaro community as we work to mitigate flood risk and damage to residents, businesses, and local infrastructure. This investment would not be possible without the leadership and partnership of Senator Padilla, Congressman Panetta, Congresswoman Lofgren, and local leaders fighting to ensure this critical project receives the federal resources it needs."

"Nearly three years ago, I visited Pajaro and Watsonville where I met with residents and saw firsthand their lives upended by catastrophic flooding that wiped out entire homes, farms, and businesses. Since then, I have pushed for sustained federal investment not just to rebuild the Central Coast communities devastated by historic flooding, but to protect the region from future disasters," said Senator Alex Padilla. "As atmospheric rivers grow more frequent and severe, this new funding boost will help create new flood walls and rebuild more resilient levees along the Pajaro River. I won't stop fighting in Congress for even more funding to address the inequities in our infrastructure in Pajaro and beyond."

"The residents and businesses along the Pajaro River have been waiting for necessary flood protection for far too long," said Rep. Zoe Lofgren. "In September, I was proud to announce nearly $40 million for levee and floodwall construction in Watsonville, and I'm proud to have submitted this additional $54.8 million as one of my community projects this year. That's going to help save lives and property, and I'm thankful for the extraordinary leadership Senators Padilla and Schiff have both shown by prioritizing this project as well."

"For far too long, the people Watsonville and Pajaro have been left vulnerable to devastating floods that have damaged homes, taken lives, and destroyed livelihoods," said Rep. Jimmy Panetta. "Together with Senators Schiff and Padilla and Rep. Lofgren, we have worked hard to ensure that the federal government has stepped up and provided the funding necessary for proper flood protection of the communities along the Pajaro River. The partnership at all levels of government to make the Pajaro River Flood Risk Management Project a reality is something we can all be proud of on the Central Coast of California."

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