City Of Temecula Breaks Ground On $39M Floodwater Expansion Project

TEMECULA, CA — The City of Temecula broke ground on the second phase of a massive environmental floodwater project, funded by a $39 million federal grant. Phase 2B of the Murrieta Creek Flood Control, Environmental Restoration and Recreation Project ceremonially got underway Thursday, and will begin in earnest later this month.

The project aims to provide added flood protection to Temecula and the surrounding areas.

The groundbreaking event, where golden shovels turned the dirt marking the project's beginning, was attended by the mayor, city council members, public works officials, elected officials and stakeholders, including Rep. Ken Calvert, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Colonel Andrew J. Baker, Los Angeles District Commander and Flood Control and Water Conservation District General Manager-Chief Engineer Jason Uhley.

Phase 1 in Old Town Temecula and 2A to Via Montezuma are completed, and phase 2B, which will take the project through to Winchester Road, is next. These will be followed by Phase 3 and 4, which take the project into Murrieta.

The project is expected to provide additional flood protection to Old Town Temecula and surrounding areas, add 1.5 miles of trail to the National Butterfield Overland Trail System, and 1.5 miles of a habitat corridor that will increase connectivity between the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve and the Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve.

According to the city, design-level digital topographic mapping has been compiled for the entire 7-mile length of the project.

This expansion significantly enlarges the open space corridor, providing aesthetic benefits as well as equestrian and hiking/biking trails with connections to the active recreation site at the detention basin and to "pocket parks" along the length of the channel.

The floodwater project will also enhance water quality by creating an extensive natural wetlands system that can effectively remove contaminants from stream flows destined for Camp Pendleton's aquifer.