SAFCA Board of Directors Meeting - September 18, 2026

The Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (SAFCA) Board of Directors met on September 18, 2026, at 15:37:43 UTC. The raw transcript labels the meeting September 17, 2026, a local-date discrepancy; no agenda or minutes were provided. The meeting included a closed session, approval of a consent calendar with one item pulled, an executive director's report, an information item on the Upper Yolo Bypass study, and one public comment.

Closed Session

• The board went into closed session under Government Code Section 54956.
• One board member stated a recusal from the closed-session discussion.
• No reportable action was announced; the board reported nothing.

Consent Calendar

• Item 6 was pulled and considered separately: Resolution No. 2026-073, SAFCA v. Meritaj Homes of California, Sacramento Superior Court Case No. 23CV013286. No public comment was heard; the item was approved.
• The remaining consent items (1 through 5 and 7 through 9) were approved together, including the adequate progress finding and an extension of the security agreement noted by the executive director.

Executive Director's Report

• Natomas Basin Project: substantial earthwork, slope flattening, utility relocations, and sewer work continue; the full closure of a portion of Garden Highway has been pushed to next year, while lane closures continue through next year.
• American River Common Features: an access solution was established with the Corps, the city, and American River Flood Control, including emergency bollard access to the levee; sod placement is making the site greener.
• Sacramento Weir: foundation work for the north abutment, bridge deck reassembly, stilling basin forming/rebar/pour, and fish passage wall construction are progressing.
• Folsom Dam Raise: after proof of concept, a pause or contract termination is possible; staff are coordinating with federal sponsors and officials in Washington, D.C., and the security-agreement extension is intended to maintain work through the fall while pursuing additional funding.
• Staff highlighted that the pump station is expected to be ready for the upcoming winter storms and tied this to the approved adequate progress finding.

Upper Yolo Bypass Feasibility Study - Information Item

• Melanie Sassier of SAFCA presented. The study builds on regional planning efforts since the late 1990s, and expansion has been recommended as the most economical and hydraulically beneficial path.
• The study is cost-shared by non-federal sponsors (SAFCA and the board) along with DWR: $13.9 million over 5.5 years, more than halfway complete.
• The federal process now requires 35% design and a Class 3 cost estimate before funding decisions.
• The Corps' draft plan/report is out for public review, with fact sheets and outreach materials distributed. Staff mentioned two public meetings, including one held September 2.
• Two alternatives were studied; the tentatively selected plan has a smaller footprint, reduces impacts to the Velve mitigation bank, a wetland mitigation bank, existing utilities, and productive farmland, and provides regional flood risk benefits. Drainage improvements to a pump station would be needed.
• Outreach has included briefings with Yolo County, RD 1600, ranches, the basin foundation, a landowner, and other interested parties in upper Elkhorn; additional briefings and a Yolo County Board of Supervisors conversation are planned for late October.
• Timeline: the project remains in a four- to five-year study phase, followed by authorization and funding, then 65%, 95%, and 100% design before construction.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Lisa Sanchez, River City Water Alliance, described the group's nonprofit work restoring Steelhead Creek, Arcade Creek, and Robla Creek within the Weta Parkway in Sacramento. She reported summer volunteer work removing trash and debris from levee systems and invasive species from land and water. Sanchez emphasized that Steelhead Creek is a salmon corridor and that keeping the channel open supports endangered Chinook salmon; she noted that an invasive species plant has escaped into the channel from backyard ponds and is being removed by hand.

Key Outcomes

• Approved Item 6 separately and the remaining consent calendar items en bloc.
• Received the executive director's report and the Upper Yolo Bypass feasibility study information item without formal action.
• Staff confirmed ongoing monthly coordination with Yolo County staff and a planned October outreach to Yolo County supervisors.
• The next board meeting was scheduled for October 15, 2026; the meeting was adjourned.