Site work for a water / sewer project in Petaluma, California. Conceptual plans call for site work for a water / sewer project.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is responsible for maintaining the federal channel of the Petaluma River, including dredging of the Turning Basin to a depth of 8 feet. Funding for federal dredging projects has remained the same even as the costs of dredging have greatly increased. This has left shallow draft channels like the Petaluma River, which do not have a lot of commercial boating traffic, uncompetitive for federal funding for dredging projects. As a result, the frequency of dredging completed by the Corps can exceed 15 years between projects, as was the case with the last dredging project. This frequency will result in a river channel and turning basin that will be unnavigable by most recreational and commercial vessels. Staff have coordinated with the Corps to request federal funding allocations and dredging is anticipated to occur during the summer of 2024. To compensate for any potential lapses in the Corps' maintenance dredging cycle, this program assigns city funding for a dredging project every 6 years. This would ensure a minimum 50-foot-wide channel dredged to a minimum navigable depth and guarantees access to the turning basin. Staff will be engaging with other shallow draft channel stakeholders of the North Bay to leverage regional partnerships. The objective is to develop programs for beneficial re-use of dredge material for wetland and habitat restoration and protection from sea-level rise, as well as to explore funding opportunities to continue to perform maintenance dredging. As of July 25, 2024, this project is included in the city's 2024-2029 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) *Project information has been obtained through a public capital improvement plan (CIP). A CIP is a financial schedule for short- and long-range projects which is updated regularly. Information listed in the CIP often evolves based on funding availability and the project details, including timeline and value, are subject to change. The content management team will continue to pursue additional details as they become available.