Oceano to receive $3 million for much-needed flood relief project

Much-needed flood relief is coming to Oceano.

Rep. Salud Carbajal recently made the announcement the community will receive $3 million from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

“This federal investment will help SLO County agencies substantially reduce flood risk and prepare the Arroyo Grande Valley community for the next rainy season,” said Carbajal in a statement. “I’m grateful that FEMA has taken the risks posed to residents and agricultural businesses in the area seriously, and committed this significant funding to mitigate the impacts of flooding near Oceano.”

According to a release, the grant money has been awarded to the San Luis Obispo Flood Control and Water Conservation District, which will help flood mitigation efforts for the Arroyo Grande Creek floodplain area, particularly Oceano.

In a release, Carbajal said the flood mitigation project includes three elements to substantially reduce future flood damages and losses:

*Remove dense vegetation to increase flood conveyance capacity and reduce the probability of debris dams during flood events.

*Remove accumulated sediment, create secondary overflow channels and establish a well-defined primary low-flow channel to improve flood conveyance and sediment transport.

*Construct a flow control structure to direct overflows to the south to protect the critical facilities and developed areas on the north and minimize the potential of uncontrolled levee breaches.

“We thank Congressman Carbajal and FEMA for recognizing the need to keep the people of the Arroyo Grande Valley safe from floods in the future,” said Colt Esenwein, County of San Luis Obispo Director of Public Works in a statement. “This grant will allow us to reduce future flood damages and losses in the lower Arroyo Grande Valley, which has a long history of flooding and severe damage to agricultural and residential lands.”

No timetable was given on when the flood mitigation project will begin or how long it will last.