Santa Venetia Floodwall Facts
Independent, plain-language information for the ~600 homes in the flood zone

Five years. $25–30 million. Still no wall.

In 2021, the Santa Venetia floodwall was a buildable $6 million project with construction announced for that November. Today the estimate is $25–30 million — and not one sheet pile has been installed. On January 3, 2026, the levee breached during a king tide. This site exists to give the roughly 600 directly affected households clear, independent information — and a way to act together.

Photo: street flooding in Santa Venetia at high water. [Swap to LiDAR corridor render at launch — replace website/hero.jpg]

$6M → $25–30M
Cost growth since 2021
16 of 111
Easements secured in 5 years
$0
Programmed in the County's 5-year capital plan
2028
Soonest construction start, per the County — no schedule exists

Why this site exists

Project information is scattered across years of county reports, budget documents, and meeting minutes — most of it written for engineers and administrators, not homeowners. The official channels have not produced a schedule, a finance plan, or a clear explanation of why the project has stalled. Meanwhile, residents may soon be asked to approve a Prop 218 tax assessment of roughly $100–150 per month for 30 years.

This site gathers the public record in one place, explains it in plain language, and gives affected homeowners a single voice the County will hear. And as of July 2026, an independent alternate design — same protection, a fraction of the property ask, roughly half the cost — is complete in draft and in professional review. Join the email list to be notified the day it is published.

The short version: the project is stalled because the current design requires a permanent 18-foot easement into 111 private backyards — and the County's own design documents contain no engineering analysis justifying that requirement. Until the easement problem is solved, no money and no design will produce a wall.

Timeline

From "ready to build" in 2021 to the January 2026 breach — every major decision and delay.

Key Facts & Documents

The public record — costs, easements, funding — explained in plain language.

Take Action

What you can do this month to move the project forward.

Join the homeowner email list

One short email when something happens that affects your home, your taxes, or your flood risk. No spam, no sharing of your address. This list is how 600 households speak with one voice.

Prefer email? Send "Add me to the floodwall list" to wmta@wmta.com.