A two-year floodSAFE Yolo Pilot Program was first initiated by the District in partnership with the County of Yolo and the City of Woodland in 2008 in response to a concern identified in the Yolo County Integrated Regional Water Management Plan regarding citizens’ concerns related to property damage associated with flooding from Cache Creek. The pilot program developed a work plan that prioritized updated hydrologic models used for floodplain mapping and development of a city and county drainage manual. The pilot program ended after two years due to financial shortfalls resulting from the Great Recession, and drought years from 2007-2009, which put flood risk on the back burner.
floodSAFE Yolo 2.0 (FSY 2.0) was jumpstarted in 2019 when the District and Yolo County partnered to focus on flood risk in rural areas of the county that were not being managed by other entities, and major roadways where localized flooding has historically impaired or prevented travel. In addition to minimizing flood risk FSY 2.0 articulated the objectives of enhancing water supply, aquifer recharge, improving surface and ground water quality while being compatible with the Yolo County’s Habitat Conservation Plan; in other words, to try to make the most of California’s boom and bust rain cycles by preventing flood damage, while improving water storage and quality.
FSY 2.0’s leadership focused on implementing projects to quickly reduce flood risk in a tangible way. The community of Madison was identified as the highest priority, and with additional funding from Yolo County, Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, Yolo County OES, and the District, several small projects were completed including construction of a new flood barrier, installation of a new culvert to convey stormwater, and drainage improvements.
After the initial funding expired in 2020, FSY 2.0 laid out alternatives for how flood protection measures could be implemented in the future. Some of the identified measures have been implemented since FSY 2.0 retired, so the groundwork laid by the project continues to pay dividends. These projects include installing improved drainage culverts on roads by Yolo County Public Works, safety improvements on State Highway 16 by CalTrans, levee restoration at Huff’s Corner by Yolo County, and vegetation management and removal by the District through the Madison-Esparto Regional Community Service Area (MERCSA).