U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla announced Tuesday that he and Sen. Adam Schiff secured $54 million in federal funding for the Pajaro River Flood Risk Management Project, aimed at strengthening flood protection for Watsonville and Pajaro. The funding will go toward reconstructing failing levees along the Pajaro River and its tributaries in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, according to Padilla’s office. The project is intended to reduce flood risk for residents, businesses and infrastructure in the low-lying communities. … Problems with the aging levee have plagued the region for years, overtopping its banks and allowing devastating floods in 1955, 1995 and 1997. Some 3,000 properties lie in the floodplain.

Other flood infrastructure news:

• Santa Cruz Sentinel (Calif.): Padilla, Schiff secure $54 million for Pajaro River Flood Risk Management Project
• Action News Now (Chico, Calif.): Five Mile flood control system concerns
• The Sacramento Bee (Calif.): Coffer dam collapse near Auburn 40 years ago strained Sacramento flood defenses