Coastal Resource Conservation District

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Map of Arroyo Grande Creek Flooding Area
Double click on image to see enlarged version

ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

Discharges from the watersheds of Arroyo Grande Creek and Los Berros Creek have caused flooding and silt deposition on the highly productive agricultural lands on the flood plain. Fire in the steep headwaters contributed to flooding. Wind erosion from the sand dunes clogged waterways and caused loss of farmland. The Official AGSCD Minutes, July 22, 1955, recorded by Keith Rapp: Edwin Taylor summarized the three alternatives from which the board could choose:

1. We could drop the project completely. This is not feasible since the district raised $40,000 by bond issue two years before to provide some measure of protection for land and property in the lower Arroyo Grande Valley and Oceano Area.

2. We could spend the $40,000 under direction of the county supervisors through the county engineer. This would require another survey, at additional cost, and would result in a plan of work, which undoubtedly cost more than the $40,000 available. This would not be feasible.

3. We could accept the plan of the Soil Conservation Service. This service through our local conservation district has spent many thousands of dollars on preliminary plans and surveys. None of this money was raised locally. This plan is the only one presented that has a chance to be partially financed by the Federal Government, and eventually completed, to the advantage of our whole district

Turbulent Arroyo Grande Creek 1952

Both the Arroyo Grande Soil Conservation District and Flood Control District voted to accept the third alternative, the detailed work plan prepared for the 566 Project by W. W Fox, Acting SCS State Conservationist. Keith Rapp, AGWCD Secretary recorded the names of those present at the meeting: Edwin M. Taylor, John Enos, Emmett Montgomery, Clayton Conrow, Joe T. Silva, Kazu Ikeda, Keith Rapp, and Lester Sullivan. William F. Fox, Earl Ross, P.O Tinker and Clark Moore represented the SCS, and Tom Aldrich, county agricultural Extension Service, and William T. Dresser, US Forest Service.

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"A bill to hasten congressional approval of the Arroyo Grande Creek watershed project and similar proposals was introduced into congress and, with the backing of Congressman Teague of this district, is up for consideration by the House at the present time," reported the AG Herald Recorder. "Telegrams from Senator Thomas H. Kuchel and Congressman Teague informed the Telegram Tribune that the waiting period was changed from 45 days to 15 days in order for the AG PL 566 Project to be considered in the 1956 congressional session," reported the Telegram Tribune on July 14, 1956.

Watershed Work Plan Signed

Public Law 1018-84^th Congress, 2^nd Session. The Supplemental Watershed Work Plan Agreement between the Arroyo Grande Soil Conservation District, SLO Co. Flood Control and Water Conservation District, State and Soil Conservation Service was executed on March 28, 1956:

AG SCD PL 566 - During construction

Whereas, the Watershed Work Plan for the Arroyo Grande Creek Watershed met the requirements of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act. The SCS is now authorized to provide assistance to the Sponsoring Organization: in the installation of works of improvement in accordance with the terms, conditions, Public Law 1018 (84^th Congress, 2^nd Session). The sponsoring Local Organization will acquire without cost to the Federal Government such land, easements, right-of-way as will be needed in connection with the works of improvement. (Estimated cost $64,632).

Work Begins

Bids for the channel work on the lower Arroyo Grande Creek were opened in May 1957. The contract was awarded to the low bidder, Peter Kiewit and Sons. The AG PL 566 Project was the first 566 Project west of the Mississippi and so there was a lot of publicity. The Los Angles Times ran full-page stories on the Project. "The total cost is about $408.000, with the Federal agencies contributing $289,244 and local sponsors matching the remainder. Local farmers are paying about $3 per acre to finance the work," wrote Mr. Dunlap.

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Croft and Sons, Sub-Contractor on AG Project

"Engineers estimate that the project will return $1.24 in benefits for each $1 of cost. The Arroyo Grande watershed covers 103,400 acres, and recurrent floods have been a problem since 1862. In 1952 alone, it was estimated that floods caused more than $100,000 damage to farm crops in the valley. Averaging the benefits over the years, John S. Barnes, State Conservationist of the SCS, estimates the savings will be $22,765 annually," according to the 8/3/56 AG Herald Recorder.

Work Progress

Ernest Draves-USFS, Earl Ross-SCS Project Engineer, Sky Dunlop-LA Times, standing on heliport pad. 1957

"Most tangible result so far is the dust being churned up by four 18-cubic-yard earth movers, two bulldozers and a grader, excavating Arroyo Grande Creek for more than a mile back from the ocean outlet. Other bulldozers are at work in the 70 square mile headwater portion of the watershed, as the Forest Service intensified fire prevention steps in Los Padres National Forest. Already accomplished in the Lopez Mountain-Gay Mountain-Pinery Ridge area and the Bald Mountain area are opening up of 1.7 miles of old mechanized trail. The opening of 1.3 miles of old roads, constructing 8 miles of new mechanized trail, bulldozing 7.4 miles of firebreaks, and constructing five heliports and building five staging areas, wrote Mr. Dunlap.

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"The construction of the channel to carry the waters of Arroyo Grande and Los Berros Creeks to the ocean started in Oceano and extended 2.8 miles inland to Halcyon. Above the SP Bridge the channel was 11 feet deep, 60 feet wide at the bottom and 126 feet at the top. From the beach to the SP Railroad Bridge for about a mile two dikes were built making the channel 14 feet deep, 60 feet wide at the bottom and 126 feet wide at the top.

Rock rip rap on banks and on both sides of the SP Bridge 2/2/1961

For a space on either side of the bridge, the channel was widened to 80 feet at the bottom. This was done because in previous floods debris had been caught under the bridge and virtually created a dam. The water would back up and pour over the banks and flood the cultivated vegetable fields, causing thousands of dollars of crop damage and millions of dollars of economic damage to the area, Rock rip rap up to 20 inches in diameter was used to protect the banks and the both sides of the bridge. Along the whole channel the inner banks were planted to stop erosion." Telegram Tribune reports August 12, 1957.

Cheek Dam at Lower End of AG Creek Dike

Los Berros Creek storm overflow before PL566 Project

Celebrating the completion of the AG PL 566 Project: Clark Moore, Keith Rapp, Lester Sullivan and Edwin Taylor. Not Pictures: Ed Campodonico, Manuel Silva and new AGSCD Directors J.O. Pence and George Dana.

AG PL 566 Project - Completed 1961

1. A deepened and controlled stream bed for Arroyo Grande Creek.
2. Diversion of Los Berros Creek into Arroyo Grande Creek. Control of Lopez Creek and Tar Creek.
3. Tidal Gates in and working.
4. Planting of beach grass to stabilize miles of sand dunes.

5. Levees and water flow-controls measures in and working.

6. Land treatment-crop cover, range fertilization, and pasture and range seeding.
7. Heliports, firebreaks, roads and fire protection in the upper watershed of the Los Padres National Forest.
8. Awareness of the problem among the residents in the 161 square miles included in the watershed.

This study is dedicated to the wise leadership of Edwin M. Taylor and the directors of the Arroyo Grande Soil Conservation District, Keith A. Rapp, Manuel F. Silva, L.C. Sullivan, Edward Campodonico, J.O. Pence, and George Dana.

The AG 566 Project was completed with excellent technical help from the Soil Conservation Service; Robert Middlecamp, Regional Construction Engineer, T. Earl Ross, Engineer, D.G. Porter, Inspector and Clark Moore, District Conservationist.

By Ella Honeycutt