Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency

What Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency does

The Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (SAFCA) is a joint powers authority formed in 1989 at the directive of the California State Legislature under the Joint Exercise of Powers Act. It is governed by a 13-member Board composed of representatives from the City of Sacramento, County of Sacramento, County of Sutter, American River Flood Control District, and Reclamation District No. 1000. SAFCA's mandate is to plan, finance, and coordinate flood control improvements for the Sacramento region, which is identified as one of the most flood-vulnerable urban areas in the United States, with more than 500,000 residents and over $70 billion in damageable property within the floodplain. The agency operates approximately 106 miles of levees and channels protected by Folsom Dam, Fremont Weir, Sacramento Weir, Yolo Bypass, and associated flood control infrastructure originally constructed in the mid-1950s.

SAFCA's core portfolio consists of six Congressionally-authorized flood control projects covering more than $5 billion in total system improvements, including the Folsom Dam Modifications and Dam Raise, American River Watershed Common Features 2016 Project, Natomas Basin levee improvements (42 miles total, with 18.3 miles completed by 2013 and 24 miles under construction since 2019), Sacramento Weir and Bypass widening, Sacramento River East Levee reconstruction, and South Sacramento Streams Group improvements. As of 2025, eleven major federal contracts are under construction simultaneously by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. When completed, the system is projected to provide approximately 300-year flood protection for Sacramento.

SAFCA's financial model is built on three funding streams: property assessments levied on benefited parcels through three assessment districts (Operation and Maintenance District No. 1 established 1991, Natomas Basin Local Assessment District formed 2011 with a 40-year term, and Consolidated Capital Assessment District No. 2 formed 2016 with a 30-year term); a Development Impact Fee implemented in 2008 and collected at building permit issuance; and federal/state cost-sharing that yields approximately $6 in government funds for every $1 of local funds raised. SAFCA does not receive general tax revenues and does not generate revenue from commercial sales; it is funded as a public infrastructure cost-share sponsor serving property owners in the Sacramento floodplain.

Name

Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency

Legal name

Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency

Website

https://safca.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (SAFCA) is a California joint powers authority formed in 1989 that plans, finances, and coordinates multi-billion-dollar flood control improvements for the Sacramento region, serving property owners across the Sacramento and Sutter County floodplains.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Flood Control Infrastructure

NAICS

Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (924110), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support (921)

SIC

Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro primary industry

Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Control & Compliance (Storage, Separation, Treatment) (EUANAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG)

Keywords

• Flood control infrastructure
• Levee improvement
• Flood risk reduction
• Watershed management
• Public floodplain assessment

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Property Assessments: SAFCA raises local matching funds through property assessments on benefited properties. This includes Operations and Maintenance District No. 1 for ongoing maintenance and two benefit assessment districts (Natomas Basin Local Assessment District and Consolidated Capital Assessment District No. 2) for capital projects. Local share is typically 10.5% of total project cost.
2. Development Impact Fee: Implemented in 2008, this fee ensures new structures in the 200-year floodplain do not increase Sacramento's exposure to flood damages. Collected by City and County of Sacramento Community Development Departments as part of building permit process.
3. Federal and State Cost-Sharing: The majority of funding for flood control construction comes from Federal and State governments through cost-sharing agreements with USACE and California Department of Water Resources. For every dollar of local funds raised, Sacramento receives approximately six dollars in Federal and State assistance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (SAFCA) is a joint powers authority that plans, finances, and serves as the local sponsor for major flood control infrastructure in the Sacramento region, including levee reconstruction, dam modifications, weir and bypass widening, and stream group improvements. It funds these projects through property assessments on benefited parcels, a development impact fee, and federal/state cost-sharing agreements with USACE and the California Department of Water Resources. Once all current projects are completed, the Sacramento area is expected to achieve approximately 300-year level of flood protection.

Product overview

SAFCA offers a portfolio of flood control services organized as infrastructure projects and assessment programs. Core infrastructure projects include the American River Watershed Common Features 2016 Project (encompassing Sacramento River East Levee, North Area Streams, and Lower American River erosion protection), Folsom Dam Modifications and Dam Raise, Natomas Basin Levee Improvements, Sacramento Weir and Bypass Widening, and South Sacramento Streams Group improvements. Financial programs include Development Impact Fee assessment for new construction and multiple assessment districts (Natomas Basin Local Assessment District, Consolidated Capital Assessment District No. 2, and Operation and Maintenance District No. 1) that fund project construction and ongoing maintenance. SAFCA also provides an interactive ArcGIS-based project map and an Assessment Deferral Program for qualifying low-income property owners. The agency does not offer a software product but rather government flood control infrastructure and financing services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• American River Watershed Common Features 2016 Project Multi-component flood control project reconstructing the levee system within the American River Watershed and increasing capacity of the Lower American River Channel to handle larger flood flows; includes Sacramento River East Levee improvements, North Area Streams improvements, and Lower American River erosion protection. Authorized as a federal project and in progress as of the source date.
• American River Watershed Folsom Dam Modifications and Dam Raise Joint Federal Project between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and SAFCA that adds a new auxiliary spillway (operational since 2017) and raises the main Folsom Dam and reservoir dikes by 3.5 feet to increase flood control storage capacity.
• American River Watershed Common Features Natomas Basin Project Levee improvement program for the 42-mile Natomas Basin levee system targeting a minimum 200-year level of flood protection, with 18.3 miles completed by 2013 and the remaining 24 miles under construction since 2019. Implemented as a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project with SAFCA as the local sponsor.
• South Sacramento Streams Group Project Flood control improvements along Morrison Creek, Elder Creek, Florin Creek, and Unionhouse Creek protecting southern Sacramento neighborhoods, including 12.6 miles of floodwall, 7.7 miles of sheet-pile cutoff wall, and bridge retrofits.
• American River Watershed Common Features 2016 – Sacramento Weir and Bypass Widening Project to widen the Sacramento Weir by 1,500 feet and construct a 2-mile-long setback levee along the Sacramento Bypass to allow more water to enter the bypass system during flood events; SAFCA acquired a portion of the Sierra Northern Railroad in 2020 to enable the widening.
• Flood Control Assessment Districts Property assessment programs that finance flood control improvements, including the Development Impact Fee, Natomas Basin Local Assessment District (formed 2011, 40-year term), Consolidated Capital Assessment District No. 2 (formed 2016, 30-year term), and Operation and Maintenance District No. 1 (established 1991, ongoing). Rates are calculated based on flood damage reduction benefits, considering potential flood depth, parcel acreage, and building square footage.
• Development Impact Fee Program Fee program implemented in 2008 to ensure new structures in the 200-year floodplain do not increase Sacramento's exposure to flood damages, funding flood risk reduction projects to offset additional property damage exposure from new development. Collected by City and County of Sacramento Community Development Departments at building permit issuance.
• Assessment Deferral Program Program assisting low-income property owners by allowing deferral of flood control assessments, with payments collected with accrued interest at property sale or refinancing.
• Interactive Flood Project Map Interactive GIS map showing currently active Congressionally-authorized flood control projects under construction across the Sacramento area, hosted on the ArcGIS platform.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 500,000 people protected from flooding
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1989Federal agency responsible for implementing major flood control projects in Sacramento. USACE is constructing projects including Folsom Dam modifications, levee reconstructions, Sacramento Weir widening, and erosion protection. SAFCA serves as the non-federal sponsor providing local cost-share.
• U.S. Bureau of ReclamationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOwns and operates Folsom Dam; partnered with USACE on the Joint Federal Project to construct new auxiliary spillway completed in 2017; cost-sharing Folsom Dam modifications.
• California Department of Water ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency responsible for implementing and cost-sharing flood control projects; released Central Valley Flood Protection Plan Update; implementing Lower Elkhorn Basin Levee Setback Project.
• Central Valley Flood Protection BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency responsible for implementing and overseeing flood control projects in the Central Valley; regulatory oversight of levee improvements.
• City of SacramentocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of five entities forming SAFCA under Joint Exercise of Power Act; provides 3 board members; administers Development Impact Fee collection through Community Development Department.
• County of SacramentocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of five entities forming SAFCA; provides 5 board members; administers Development Impact Fee collection through Community Development Department; hosts board meetings at County Administration Building.
• County of SutterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of five entities forming SAFCA; provides 1 board member from Sutter County Board of Supervisors.
• American River Flood Control DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of five entities forming SAFCA; provides 2 board trustees; Local Maintaining Agency for American River north and south levees, Arcade Creek, and portions of Sacramento River East Levee.
• Reclamation District No. 1000coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of five entities forming SAFCA; provides 2 board trustees; Local Maintaining Agency for Natomas Basin levees.
• National Waterways ConferenceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHosted 2023 Annual Meeting in Sacramento; facilitates collaboration among federal officials, water agencies, and organizations; helps raise awareness of Sacramento flood risk.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Central Valley Flood Protection Board: State regulatory body providing oversight and authorization for SAFCA's levee improvements; comparable in that it operates in the same Sacramento/Central Valley floodplain regulatory ecosystem, though its role is regulatory oversight rather than project sponsorship.

Direct peers

• Harris County Flood Control District: Special district responsible for flood control infrastructure in the Houston region; comparable to SAFCA as a large urban flood control district managing extensive channel/levee/bayou infrastructure with assessment-based funding and federal partnerships (USACE), but serving the Texas Gulf Coast watershed.
• Santa Clara Valley Water (Valley Water): Santa Clara County's flood control and water resources district; comparable in that it is a California special district managing levees, creeks, and floodplain infrastructure with property-assessment-based funding and partnerships with USACE — directly analogous governance and funding model to SAFCA, just in a different Sacramento-region watershed.
• American River Flood Control District: Local maintaining agency for American River north and south levees, Arcade Creek, and portions of Sacramento River East Levee; partner of SAFCA. Direct peer as a property-assessment-funded California flood control district operating and maintaining urban levee infrastructure.
• Miami-Dade County Flood Control and Sea Level Rise Section: Operates flood control infrastructure (canals, levees, pump stations) for a highly exposed urban Florida region; comparable to SAFCA in mandate and scale of population/property protected, though facing different climate drivers (sea level vs. riverine flooding).
• Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans: Municipal agency operating urban flood and drainage infrastructure in a high-risk U.S. city with federal cost-sharing partners; comparable to SAFCA in providing integrated flood protection services for an at-risk urban population post-Katrina regulatory regime.
• Reclamation District No. 1000: California reclamation district operating and maintaining the Natomas Basin levee system that SAFCA is rebuilding. Direct peer in flood-control infrastructure operations and assessment funding within the same Sacramento geography, with overlapping board representation on SAFCA itself.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Sacramento District): Federal implementing agency for SAFCA's largest projects; comparable as the federal cost-share partner executing the >$5B capital program, though broader in mission (navigation, environmental, military) and not a special district.
• Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago: Large special-purpose district managing water and stormwater infrastructure for a major U.S. metropolitan area; comparable to SAFCA in its property-tax/assessment-funded governance and flood-control mandate, but operating at substantially greater scale and scope.
• California Department of Water Resources: State agency that is SAFCA's primary state cost-share partner; broader in scope (statewide water management) but directly comparable as the upper-tier governmental body responsible for flood protection policy, project cost-sharing, and oversight in California.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/1542960879351588
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sacramento-area-flood-control-agency

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency