Body of News Release
UPDATE 1/26/26: The webinar is archived on the Flood Control District website.
Marin County, CA – The County of Marin will host a one-hour community webinar on Wednesday, January 21, at 5:30 PM to share information about the January 3-4 storm and king tide event in Santa Venetia, the condition of the current levee, and the County’s ongoing flood protection efforts for the remainder of the winter season.
The webinar is intended for residents of Santa Venetia and other community members who want to learn more about what occurred during the early January storm and high tide event in Santa Venetia, how the levee performed, and what the County is doing in response. The event follows the Marin County Board of Supervisors’ consideration of an emergency declaration on January 20 related to recent flood damage.
The December 31, 2025–January 4, 2026 storm series brought together heavy rainfall, saturated ground conditions, and record high king tides, resulting in flooding impacts in parts of Santa Venetia, including street flooding and water entering residential backyards. County and partner agencies carried out extensive emergency response actions, including deploying crews and sandbags, monitoring levee conditions, and stabilizing vulnerable and breached area.
The January 3 event brought an 8.76-foot king tide, and the highest tides overtopped the existing Santa Venetia timber-reinforced term by at least 1 inch.
During the January 21 webinar, County staff will:
- Review the January 3-4 tide, storm surge and flooding in Santa Venetia
- Share photos and videos from the event, including aerial drone imagery
- Explain how the existing timber-reinforced berm and earthen levee system performed under these conditions, and talk about where the levee system was breached and how seepage occurred
- Discuss the damages to public infrastructure, and what that means for future flood risk
- Provide an update on the proposed floodwall project and describe how the proposed floodwall would have performed under a similar high tide and storm surge event
- Explain the purpose and implications of the Board of Supervisors’ January 20 emergency declaration
- Address community questions, including why dredging alone cannot prevent tidal flooding.
- Outline the process for identifying near-term repair and operations and maintenance for current levee
- Discuss next steps in community engagement on the proposed improved project
“January 3 was a serious warning, one we cannot afford to ignore, or allow to repeat itself,” said Mary Sackett, District 1 County Supervisor. “Preventing future levee failures and neighborhood flooding will require collective action.”
The webinar is part of a broader community engagement process on the proposed improved floodwall project. Over the past several months, the County has held recent public meetings related to the Santa Venetia levee and floodwall project, including a community meeting in October, a meeting with levee-adjacent homeowners in November, and a Flood Zone 7 Advisory Board meeting in December. Additional community engagement is planned for the spring.
Residents are encouraged to ask questions during the webinar.
Event Details
- Santa Venetia Levee Community Webinar
- Wednesday, January 21
- 5:30–6:30 PM
- Archived webinar
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For disability accommodations, please phone (415) 473-6358 (voice), CA Relay 711, or e-mail County staff at least five business days in advance of the event. The County will do its best to fulfill requests received with less than five business days’ notice. Copies of documents are available in alternative formats, upon request.