The Ventura County Public Works Agency – Watershed Protection (VCPWA – WP) is soliciting input from reviewing agencies and the public regarding the scope and content of the EIR. In accordance with CEQA, Watershed Protection requests that agencies review the Project Description provided in this NOP and provide comments on environmental issues related to the statutory responsibilities of the agency. The EIR will be used by Watershed Protection when considering approval of the proposed project and by other Responsible and Trustee Agencies to support their discretionary actions related to the proposed project. Watershed Protection is also seeking the views of residents, property owners, and the public regarding issues that should be addressed in the EIR.
The proposed project would involve structural improvements to the existing VR-1 levee, which would achieve compliance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) levee certification requirements and United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) levee permit requirements, address structural deficiencies, and extend the levee’s capital service life. In 2008, FEMA determined that the VR-1 levee did not fully comply with all the federal levee certification regulatory requirements. Additionally, the Corps rated the levee as “minimally acceptable,” meaning that the levee has multiple deficiencies. These deficiencies put the levee at risk of failing from a one percent annual chance (also known as the 100-year) flood event. The proposed project would improve flood protection to residents and businesses in the City of San Buenaventura (commonly known as Ventura) located within the one percent annual chance flood zone (a.k.a. FEMA flood zone) by achieving a one percent annual chance flood capacity with 3 feet of freeboard (i.e., the height of the levee above the flood water).