Body of News Release
Marin County, CA – The Marin County Flood Control District will pause all Corte Madera Creek flood control projects pending a comprehensive review to determine if project goals can be accomplished.
District leaders will evaluate the overall flood control effort along Corte Madera Creek before advancing any additional work. During this phase, no new spending on outside engineering and design consultants will be authorized.
Currently, the Corte Madera Creek Flood Risk Management Project faces a combination of regulatory, technical, and community challenges that prevent it from moving forward in its current form.
“This pause gives us the opportunity to step back, reassess our approach, and ensure we are making responsible decisions on behalf of the community,” said County Public Works Director Christopher Blunk. “We need to ensure that any future work along Corte Madera Creek is realistic, reduces flood risk, and reflects community input.”
Blunk described the pause as a strategic reset – a deliberate step to reevaluate the overall flood control effort along Corte Madera Creek before advancing additional work.
The pause provides time to better understand key challenges affecting remaining project elements, including various project constraints, FEMA mapping implications, and flood-rise assumptions, Blunk said.
“This reset provides an opportunity to rebuild trust and strengthen communication with the community,” Blunk added. “Taking the time to listen and reassess now will lead to better outcomes over the long term.”
The District also noted that similar challenges may exist in other projects and that it will apply the same careful, deliberate review where appropriate. Lessons learned through this review will inform how the District evaluates and manages future projects.
The District will share additional information and updates as the review continues.
The public is invited to email Flood Control staff with questions and concerns.