• $220 million
• Cost sharing - approximately 3/4 federal, 1/4 local

First phase of construction began in February 1996. Final phase of flood control improvements were completed in December 2001, five years ahead of original anticipated Federal schedule.

Flood Insurance

Mandatory flood insurance became effective July 6, 1998 across the communities of Bellflower, Carson, Compton, Downey, Gardena, Lakewood, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Lynwood, Montebello, Paramount, Pico Rivera, South Gate, and unincorporated County area.

• Annual premiums for average property owner were $400 per year

Recent changes to flood insurance and building requirements as follows:

• February 2000, FEMA rescinded mandatory flood insurance covering 18 square mile area adjacent to lower LA River (see attached map). Approximately 130,000 residents in west Long Beach, Los Angeles, Carson, and Gardena are no longer required to carry flood insurance, saving the property owners approximately $10 million in annual premiums.
• September 2000, FEMA downgraded the Zone AR designation to Zone A99, lifting the special restrictions for new buildings.
• May 2001, FEMA rescinded mandatory flood insurance covering a 10 square mile area adjacent to the Rio Hondo Channel. Approximately 70,000 residents in Pico Rivera, Downey, and Montebello are no longer required to carry flood insurance.
• January 2002, the remaining A99 flood zones were removed across 64 square miles, encompassing 12 communities, and relieving some 300,000 property owners of mandatory flood insurance requirements.

In 1991, the cities of Bellflower, Carson, Downey, Lakewood, Paramount, Pico Rivera, and South Gate formed the LACDA Alliance to promote support for the Federal funding of the LACDA Project and efforts to minimize the impacts of mandatory flood insurance in the pre-project overflow area. The LACDA Alliance has been an important agency partner to ensure the timely completion of the LACDA Project.

Need for State Involvement

State Subvention Funding needed to allow County to complete urgently needed projects that were deferred to allow LACDA Project to proceed on schedule. The LACDA Project will afford critical flood protection to some 36 miles of State-owned highway and freeway facilities as well as other major facilities associated with the State's economy.