Flood Control Commission Meeting - 10/21/26

The Tulare County Flood Control Commission met on October 21, 2026. The commission discussed the county and state emergency declarations, which staff said allow work to proceed more quickly and bypass some procurement steps. Sediment-removal and channel projects are moving forward under the declarations, but the county is paying for this work from its own funds, with no expectation of reimbursement; staff noted that FEMA payments from earlier events remain outstanding. Staff also reported about 30 applications submitted to California’s Department of Housing and Community Development for projects related to the 2023 storms, including standardizing and potentially replacing flood pumps. Many pumps are over 40 years old; about five were replaced last year, with roughly eight to ten addressed this year. No contract awards, bid approvals, or procurement-spending motions were recorded.

Other project updates included FEMA applications for the Deer Creek–White River and Analopee Creek flood studies; a Kings River hydrology study with alternatives analysis underway; and work with Fry Water Authority on an agreement for more automated flood-pump operation. The commission also discussed a planned Fish and Wildlife routine-maintenance agreement intended to clear a regulatory hurdle for channel maintenance by landowners and agencies, while noting that other permits may still be required. The commission approved a resolution enabling remote attendance and selected Government Plaza as the meeting location; these were administrative actions, not purchasing decisions. A public commenter requested emergency assistance for the Deer Creek Storm Water District, and staff said they would discuss possible county actions, but no decision or funding commitment was made.