REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT
AND RECORD OF ACTION
October 20, 2026
FROM
NOEL CASTILLO, Chief Flood Control Engineer, Flood Control District
SUBJECT
Title
Emergency Projects for Repair and Flood Mitigation Work in the Lytle Creek, Wrightwood, Oak Glen, Forest Falls, and Seven Oaks Areas
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of the San Bernardino County Flood Control District:
1. Find that the damage to the Lytle Creek, Wrightwood, Oak Glen, Forest Falls, and Seven Oaks areas caused by previous storm events, in conjunction with the Super El Niño forecast for Winter 2026, constitute an emergency pursuant to Public Contract Code sections 22035 and 22050, and that there is substantial evidence that immediate action is needed to prevent impacts from anticipated or potential flooding, landslides, and mud and debris flows and mitigate the threat to property and public health posed by the predicted Super El Niño, in the Lytle Creek, Wrightwood, Oak Glen, Forest Falls, and Seven Oaks areas, and that this emergency will not permit the delay resulting from a formal competitive solicitation of bids to procure materials and construction services (Four votes required).
2. Authorize the Chief Flood Control Engineer to accept the emergency work set forth in Recommendation No. 1 when 100% complete and to execute and file the Notices of Completion.
(Presenter: Noel Castillo, Chief Flood Control Engineer, 387-7906)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the additional use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The San Bernardino County Flood Control District (District) is funded by property tax revenue, fee revenue, and local, state, and federal funding. Pursuant to Grant Agreements NR269104XXXXC003 and NR269104XXXXC004 approved by the Board of Supervisors (Board) on September 22, 2026 (Item No. 82 and Item No. 81), the District will receive federal funding for debris removal to mitigate flood risks and damages caused by previous September 2025 and December 2025 storm events. This funding is provided through the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Emergency Watershed Protection Program, which will fund 75% of eligible project costs, with the remaining 25% provided as a local match by either San Bernardino County (County) for private property, and the District for District facilities.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In September 2025, heavy storm activity impacted the Lytle Creek, Wrightwood, Oak Glen, Forest Falls, and Seven Oaks areas (collectively, project areas) of the County, bringing heavy rainfall that resulted in soil erosion, mudflows, and localized flooding. These conditions created risks to public safety, infrastructure, and private property due to the buildup of mud and debris and saturated ground conditions across the impacted areas. Subsequently, beginning on December 24, 2025, the start of extreme weather produced conditions of peril to the safety of persons and property within the County, in the form of infrastructure damage from extreme weather.
Since the September 2025 and December 2025 severe weather events, the District has assessed the resulting damage and identified multiple emergency restoration and safety measures necessary to implement Emergency Watershed Protection measures in the affected areas. These measures include, but are not limited to, debris removal from private properties and District facilities, hauling and proper disposal of debris, installation of guardrails, and other necessary measures to address storm-related hazards and protect public safety.
The NRCS Emergency Watershed Protection projects to be funded with NRCS grant funding are described below:
Lytle Creek Debris Removal Emergency Project
The Lytle Creek Debris Removal Emergency Project is located in the Lytle Creek area. Heavy rainfall from the December 2025 storm generated approximately 2,020 cubic yards of debris within flood control facilities and adjacent areas, creating a potential threat to life and property. The project will restore the affected areas to their pre-storm, as-built condition. Project activities include, but are not limited to, debris removal, disposal, and restoration of areas impacted by the storm.
This project has been found to be exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). A Notice of Exemption was prepared on September 25, 2026, and filed with the Clerk of the Board on September 28, 2026.
Wrightwood Debris Removal Emergency Project
The Wrightwood Debris Removal Emergency Project is located in the Wrightwood area. Heavy rainfall from the December 2025 storm generated approximately 86,500 cubic yards of debris within flood control facilities and adjacent areas, creating a potential threat to life and property. The project will restore the affected areas to their pre-storm, as-built condition. Project activities include, but are not limited to, debris removal, disposal, and restoration of areas impacted by the storm.
This project has been found to be exempt under CEQA. A Notice of Exemption was prepared on September 25, 2026, and filed with the Clerk of the Board on September 28, 2026.
Oak Glen, Forest Falls, and Seven Oaks Debris Removal and K-rail Installation Emergency Project
The Oak Glen, Forest Falls, and Seven Oaks Debris Removal and K-rail Installation Emergency Project is located in the Oak Glen, Forest Falls, and Seven Oaks areas. Heavy rainfall from the December 2025 storm generated approximately 10,600 cubic yards of debris within flood control facilities and adjacent areas, creating a potential threat to life and property. The project will restore the affected areas to their pre-storm, as-built condition. Project activities include, but are not limited to, installing protective barriers such as k-rails, debris removal, disposal, and restoration of areas impacted by the storm.
This project has been found to be exempt under CEQA. A Notice of Exemption was prepared on September 25, 2026, and filed with the Clerk of the Board on September 28, 2026.
The project areas were previously impacted by the September and December 2025 storms and remain subject to additional flooding, landslides, and mud and debris flows. The forecasted Super El Niño accelerates the need to begin the approved NRCS Emergency Watershed Protection projects as soon as possible before the upcoming winter storm season. If the Board action is delayed, the District’s ability to complete procurement, award contracts, and mobilize contractors before the next significant storm could be affected. Additional storms could worsen existing conditions, increase debris and sediment movement, and create further risks to public safety, roads, infrastructure, and nearby properties.
Pursuant to Public Contract Code section 22050, competitive bidding is not required if the Board finds that there is substantial evidence that an emergency will not permit a delay resulting from a formal competitive solicitation for bids, that immediate action is necessary to respond to the emergency, and that formal bidding would impair the District’s ability to timely undertake the projects.
Accordingly, the District recommends that the Board find that the preexisting 2025 storm damaged areas in Lytle Creek, Wrightwood, Oak Glen, Forest Falls, and Seven Oaks, in conjunction with the forecasted Super El Niño constitute an emergency pursuant to Public Contract Code sections 22035 and 22050, and that there is substantial evidence that immediate action is needed to prevent impacts from anticipated or potential flooding, landslides, and mud and debris flows and mitigate the threat to property and public health posed by the predicted Super El Niño, in the Lytle Creek, Wrightwood, Oak Glen, Forest Falls, and Seven Oaks areas, and that this emergency will not permit the delay resulting from a formal competitive solicitation of bids to procure materials and construction services.
Emergencies related to Public Contract Code section 22050, once ordered, must be affirmed at each subsequent Board meeting until terminated.
PROCUREMENT
To ensure timely emergency response, upon the Board making the required findings by a four-fifths vote, that substantial evidence exists pursuant to Public Contract Code sections 22035 and 22050 that the emergency will not permit the delay associated with a formal competitive solicitation of bids, the District will utilize its existing on-call construction contracts to perform the emergency repair work. These contracts were previously procured in accordance with applicable competitive procurement requirements and allow the District to respond expeditiously to emergency conditions.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Sophie A. Curtis, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on October 14, 2026; Purchasing (Michael Reyna, Buyer III, 387-2233) on September 29, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Scott Bruckner, Administrative Analyst, 387-4020) on October 6, 2026.