A fierce winter storm dumped more water into the Santa Maria river than it's seen in months last weekend. It put the weakened levee system at risk despite emergency repairs that have been going on for two years.
Congresswoman Lois Capps has brought good news to the county in the form of $280,000 to help study just what kind of levee work is needed. The Army Corps of Engineers says it will immediately begin the planning for a large scale levee repair project. Some of the work done by Santa Barbara County on environmental issues will be used.
The study could be done in a year. Lt. Col. Anthony Reed says, "We want to execute this as soon as possible and expedite it because we're not starting from scratch."
Capps stood at the levee edge Wednesday and said, "a major catastrophe would wreck havoc on us. So this is very prudent to do. I am pleased we are gathered here to have the funding secured for the first step."
Santa Maria Mayor Larry Lavagnino and Guadalupe mayor Lupe Alvarez were also on hand. Both have flown back to Washington D.C. to lobby for the funds. If the levee were to break near their cities, hundreds of residents and millions of dollars in homes would be in danger.
Guadalupe's water treatment plant is in a vulnerable area if the levee broke or the river overflowed. Alvarez says some efforts to protect the site have taken place. "We are working on planting our own willows in the front to create our own man made levee."

KEY NEWS Reporter John Palminteri has been to the levee and has our report.