Mayor Todd Gloria met with officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the State Water Resources Control Board in Mission Beach on Wednesday to announce $37 million in funding to upgrade the city’s aging stormwater system.
As part of President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the city will receive a $32 million low-interest loan and $5 million grant, intended to reduce neighborhood flood risk and bolster the region’s defenses for increasingly intense rain events.
The $32 million State Revolving Fund loan has a 1.7 percent interest rate.
“Upgrading our aging stormwater system is vital to protect our neighborhoods and environment from the increasing threat posed by climate change and severe weather,” Gloria said.
A project specifically earmarked includes upgrading storm drain infrastructure in South Mission Beach dating to the 1940s that officials say is too small, resulting in regular flooding.
According to the city, the funding is in conjunction with, but not part of, the $733 million investment the federal government committed to making for San Diego stormwater upgrades two years ago. That commitment was made in September 2022 through the EPA’s Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act — a federal credit program designed to promote improved water infrastructure.
“Improving stormwater infrastructure protects homes, businesses and our environment,” said Bruno Pigott, the EPA’s acting assistant administrator for water. Biden’s infrastructure law means that “now $37 million is coming to San Diego to reduce the risk of flooding in South Mission Beach,” he added.
The funding comes several months after intense storms and inadequately maintained stormwater infrastructure compounded to cause flooding in multiple areas of San Diego, especially in the southeastern part of the city.
More than $235 million in projects are in the works to bolster flood resilience and water quality improvements in the Chollas Creek watershed.
“San Diegans know all too well from recent flooding that the city’s aging stormwater infrastructure is no match for severe weather events,” said Rep. Scott Peters, who represents Mission Beach and the rest of the city of San Diego’s coastline.
However, despite these major investments, the city still faces $1.6 billion in unfunded stormwater infrastructure upgrades citywide that are needed to reduce flood risk and prevent pollution.
A proposed parcel tax to shore up stormwater infrastructure and flood prevention could be headed for the November ballot.