Full Notification

The City of Corcoran (City) in partnership with the Cross Creek Flood Control District (District) announced today that emergency raising of the Corcoran Levee will commence immediately. The District has authorized immediate use of reserve funds, and emergency construction authorization to increase the Corcoran Levee by 3.5 feet in elevation. The City and District have been actively pursuing State and Federal funding support and resources, but construction needs to begin immediately. The Corcoran community only has a small window of time and dry conditions before the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range snowmelt runoff converges with existing floodwaters in the Tulare Lake, and against the Corcoran Levee. Should timely funding from the State or Federal governments not be made readily available, the City and District will pursue all other funding sources available through private, non-profit, or other foundation funding support. The Corcoran Levee is a 14.5 mile flood protection levee with an elevation height of approximately 188 feet. This levee protects the City of Corcoran along the west, south, and southeast from floodwaters that converge from the Kings River, Cross Creek, Tule River, and Kern River systems. The Cross Creek Flood Control District maintains this levee, and is the only entity entrusted with protecting the City of Corcoran, its residents, businesses, critical facilities, and two State Prisons from the rising flood waters. The recent atmospheric rain events during the month of March 2023, have resulted in significant flooding in the former Tulare Lake with water levels at approximately 178 feet behind the Corcoran Levee. The impending snowmelt from the unprecedented 300% snowpack in Sierra Nevada Mountains is projected to increase the Tulare Lake water to a dangerously high level that significantly intensifies the risk of overflow and erosion on the Corcoran Levee. Currently, the immediate risk of flooding is low, however as summer approaches and the water in the Tulare Lake rises the threat of a serious flood significantly increases. The City and District will continue to monitor lake inflows, water elevation and the overall integrity of the Corcoran Levee. The top priority of the City and District is the protection of Corcoran residents from flooding. Together, the City and District remain committed to the completion of Corcoran Levee reinforcement in a timely manner to provide the best possible protection of Corcoran residents.