REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT
AND RECORD OF ACTION
November 3, 2026
FROM
NOEL CASTILLO, Chief Flood Control Engineer, Flood Control District
SUBJECT
Title
Continuation of 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, continue the finding, first made by the Board of Supervisors on October 20, 2026, that there is substantial evidence that the damage to the Lytle Creek, Wrightwood, Oak Glen, Forest Falls, and Seven Oaks areas caused by previous extreme storm events in conjunction with the Super El Niño forecast for Winter 2026, constitutes 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).
(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 Nos. 81 and 82), 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 or the District for District facilities. The District’s match will be funded through use of Available Reserves, while the County’s match will be funded using one-time Discretionary General Funding from the Disaster Relief - Community Needs Fund, as approved by the Board on September 22, 2026 (Item Nos. 81 and 82).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In September 2025, heavy storm activity impacted the Lytle Creek, Wrightwood, Oak Glen, Forest Falls, and Seven Oaks 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. El Niño conditions can result in increased precipitation and severe weather in Southern California, including intense rainfall that may contribute to flooding, erosion, mudflows, debris accumulation, and saturated soils. The September and December 2025 severe weather events caused these impacts in portions of the County, creating ongoing risks to public safety, infrastructure, and private property and requiring emergency response and restoration measures.
On October 20, 2026 (Item No. 67), the Board found that the damage to the Lytle Creek, Wrightwood, Oak Glen, Forest Falls, and Seven Oaks areas caused by previous extreme storm events, in conjunction with the forecasted Super El Niño constitutes 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.
The District’s emergency repairs include, but are not limited to, installing protective barriers such as k-rails, debris removal, disposal, and restoration of areas impacted by the storm. The District identified the following emergency and repair projects:
• Lytle Creek Debris Removal Emergency Project
• Wrightwood Debris Removal Emergency Project
• Oak Glen, Forest Falls, and Seven Oaks Debris Removal and K-rail Installation Emergency Project
A continuation of the emergency is recommended, as immediate action is required to repair the damaged areas. Emergencies pursuant to Public Contract Code sections 22035 and 22050, once ordered, must be affirmed at each subsequent meeting until terminated. The recommended action will meet this requirement.
PROCUREMENT
Lytle Creek Debris Removal Emergency Project
The Lytle Creek Debris Removal Emergency Project was procured through the District’s existing on-call maintenance and construction contracts to perform necessary emergency repairs. In accordance with on-call procedures, the project’s specifications were advertised via email on October 21, 2026, and the bid acceptance will be issued in the first week of November 2026. Construction activities will begin soon after the bid acceptance. The project will help 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.
Wrightwood Debris Removal Emergency Project
The Wrightwood Debris Removal Emergency Project was procured through the District’s existing on-call maintenance and construction contracts to perform necessary emergency repairs. In accordance with on-call procedures, the project’s specifications were advertised via email on October 21, 2026, and the bid acceptance will be issued in the first week of November 2026. Construction activities will begin soon after the bid acceptance. The project will help 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.
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 was procured through the District’s existing on-call maintenance and construction contracts to perform necessary emergency repairs. In accordance with on-call procedures, the project’s specifications were advertised via email on October 21, 2026 and the bid acceptance will be issued in the first week of November 2026. Construction activities will begin soon after the bid acceptance. 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.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Sophie A. Curtis, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on October 15, 2026; Purchasing (Michael Reyna, Buyer III, 387-2233) on October 22, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Scott Bruckner, Administrative Analyst, 387-4020) on October 16, 2026.