Central Valley Flood Protection Plan

The Central Valley Flood Protection Plan (CVFPP) is California's strategic blueprint to improve flood risk management in the Central Valley. The first plan was adopted in 2012 and is updated every 5 years. The plan lays out strategies to:

• Prioritize the State's investment in flood management over the next 3 decades
• Promote multi-benefit projects
• Integrate and improve ecosystem functions associated with flood risk reduction projects.

Considerable progress has been made to improve flood management in the Central Valley; however, this vast region still faces significant flood risk. Approximately 1 million Californians live and work in the floodplains of the valley, which contain approximately $80 billion worth of infrastructure, buildings, homes, and prime agricultural land. A major flood in the Central Valley could have a far greater financial impact on California and the nation than the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina or Superstorm Sandy. Without sufficient and sustained investment in statewide flood management, the risk to life and property will increase.

2022 CVFPP Update

The 2022 CVFPP Update will evaluate progress made since passage of major State bonds in 2007 and will recommend future management actions led by State, local, and/or federal agencies to continue implementation of the CVFPP. This update will focus on three key themes:

• Climate Resilience
• Project Implementation, Accomplishments, and Performance Tracking
• Alignment with Other State Efforts

This Update will continue to build on the significant amount of work completed over the past 15 years to better understand and develop priorities to improve flood risk management in the Central Valley. DWR will continue to support RFMP planning efforts during this update cycle. Regional groups can participate by updating previously provided lists of priority projects and related content, support related efforts that are advancing implementation, and continue to identify potential funding mechanisms and site-specific improvement needs.

2017 CVFPP Update

DWR convened stakeholders across the state to develop the 2017 CVFPP Update. The draft plan incorporated regional perspectives and proposed solutions from 6 locally-led regional flood management planning groups to foster a shared vision for local and regional flood management. The final 2017 CVFPP Update incorporated feedback, data, and perspectives from state, federal and local agencies, non-governmental organizations, agricultural interests, and other interested individuals.

The 2017 CVFPP Update was officially adopted in August 2017 by the Central Valley Flood Protection Board and serves as a long-range plan that guides the State’s participation in managing flood risk in the Central Valley. It will guide investments in multi-benefit flood projects over the next 30 years.

Regional Flood Management Planning

Following adoption of the 2012 Central Valley Flood Protection Plan (2012 CVFPP), DWR funded 6 regionally-led Regional Flood Management Plans (RFMPs) that describe local and regional flood management priorities and challenges. These RFMPs also identify potential funding mechanisms and site-specific improvement needs.

These regional plans provide valuable perspectives from regional and local flood managers that help inform and align CVFPP investment strategies and implementation. The RFMPs also provide a platform for meaningful engagement among DWR and local and regional flood planning entities across the Sacramento River and San Joaquin River basins.  

The RFMPs, flood atlases, and contact information for the six regions are available on these websites:

• Feather River Regional Flood Management Plan
• Lower Sacramento River/Delta North Flood Management Plan
• Mid & Upper Sacramento River Regional Flood Management Plan
• Lower San Joaquin River and Delta South Regional Flood Management Plan
• Mid San Joaquin River Regional Flood Management Plan
• Upper San Joaquin River Regional Flood Management Plan (Website will be available at a later date)