A project to remove vegetation and sediment from the Santa Maria River near Guadalupe will move forward immediately after Santa Barbara County cobbled together funds to ensure that the short-term fix occurs before the rainy season.

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to approve $8 million in funding for the removal of debris and vegetation, after state and federal funding remained elusive. County leaders crafted a plan to redirect the wayward river channel to keep the water within the banks as a temporary fix to prevent another round of flooding.

“I hope to see our contractors out in that river this afternoon,” Fifth District Supervisor Steve Lavagnino said. “That would make me happy.”

Lavagnino said he believed the county had exhausted efforts to secure state and federal funding for the work, leading to the unusual action Tuesday. 

Tuesday’s vote came months after Lavagnino hosted a heated meeting with frustrated Guadalupe residents fearful of more flooding and demanding fixes.

“I hope this action today by our board demonstrates to you our commitment to you to fix this problem in the long term as well,” Lavagnino said. “But make no mistake, this is a historic day.”

He became emotional as he noted the support from his colleagues in voting for the funding to start the work immediately after state and federal authorities decided the project wasn’t a top priority. 

“A lot of times we get labeled with being politicians, but I would say today you guys were public servants,” Lavagnino said, his voice choking with emotion. “You should be proud.”

Heavy rains earlier this year caused the Santa Maria River to breach its banks and send water into a Guadalupe neighborhood, nearby farmland, other houses and the city’s wastewater treatment plant, which could not avoid releasing effluent into the river and ocean.

The wayward river channel also severely damaged several segments of the road, approximately one-quarter of a mile, leading to the beach west of Guadalupe and a private sand plant near the beach. 

While a levee protects Santa Maria and east Guadalupe neighborhoods from the river, that structure does not extend west of Highway 1, leaving other areas susceptible to severe flooding. Federal officials have said they won’t fund a levee because of the cost-benefit ratio. 

“If this item is approved this morning, it will assist and protect the disadvantaged community of Guadalupe, it will take hundreds of acres of prime farm land out of the river bottom and it will restore access to the Guadalupe Dunes,” Public Works Director Scott McGolpin said. 

In addition to a looming rainy season, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s emergency order allowing work to occur without state permits will expire Nov. 1, providing urgency to begin the work as soon as possible.

“This is not a permanent fix,” said Walter Rubalcava, Water Division deputy director. “All this repair contemplated today is temporary and subject to breakouts. The community needs to understand that.”

In addition to vegetation and sediment removal, another proposal would involve HESCO baskets placed at strategic locations to protect property from flooding. 

But it would not provide continuous protection and carries a $6 million price tag. Additionally, they would require technical expertise from the HESCO basket company. 

To start efforts, Santa Barbara County Fire Department personnel began removing vegetation in the river and the contractor, R.W. Scott Construction Co., stood ready to begin work Wednesday, 

The project would include using the sediment to create an unengineered stockpile berm on the south side of the river. The channel redirection project would require regular maintenance, which remains to be determined and could be a partnership with ag community. 

Temporary repairs also continue on the three segments of West Main Street, but the permanent fix would require redirection of the river, according to Chris Sneddon, deputy director of transportation.

Redirecting the river remains critical to avoid federal authorities declaring the wayward channel permanent, meaning the roadway and ag land would be subjected to rules for waterways. 

Without the river being redirected, Sneddon said, there would be no way to rebuild West Main Street to the beach since federal laws don’t allow the roads in waterways. At that point, the only fix would involved a long and expensive structure, he added.

The agenda item brought out a number of Guadalupe leaders and residents who urged the board to approve the funding.

Many funding discussions focus on what might happen, Guadalupe Public Works Director Michael Cash said. 

“Today we discuss not only what has happened several times in the last decade, but what we know will happen again,” Cash said, noting the mutual aid help provided by Santa Barbara County during critical incidents.

“Today I ask you for that same mutual aid assistance to protect the lives and property of residents not only in the city of Guadalupe but in the county of Santa Barbara.”