The 2023 Atmospheric River Storms forecast a grim future: in San Joaquin County alone, there were 15 levee boils due to erosion and record snowmelt levels in the Sierra Nevada. Stockton, named the second most flood-vulnerable city in the country by the Insurance Journal Report, was flooded from all sides. High water tables seeped into home foundations, and excess rainwater deluged streets that were never designed to drain or displace such high volumes of water.
Our Flood and Land Restoration program advocates for holistic restoration and flood protection for all Delta residents – a future where flood impacts are managed with responsible levee maintenance and floodplain restoration along the San Joaquin River in consultation with California Tribal Nations, environmental justice communities, and area farmers. We envision restored landscapes with natural flood controls, improved water quality, safe recreational spaces, wildlife habitat, and fortified levees; equitable emergency response systems; and a vibrant local economy.
Restore The Delta has convened a broad community coalition to transform Mormon Slough, a former river channel stretching nine miles across South and East Stockton, into a publicly accessible greenway and park. Currently, the slough and surrounding neighborhoods are flood-prone, with hundreds of unhoused individuals residing in the area, vulnerable to flooding and other risks.
In partnership with the San Joaquin Area Flood Control Agency (SJAFCA) and American Rivers, we lead Stockton community engagement efforts for park and flood infrastructure design at Van Buskirk Park, a former golf course at the convergence of French Camp Slough and the San Joaquin River. During extreme rain events, neighborhoods behind the Van Buskirk levee face significant flood dangers.
Our team provides expert policy comments to state and local government agencies, and educates Delta communities about flood and emergency preparedness. Our advocacy has secured tens of millions of dollars to the region for climate resilience and disaster relief funding. That includes floodplain restoration through California Prop 4, Levee Subvention funds, and community engagement capacity building for the Office of Emergency Services. We also advocated successfully with our local flood control agency to accelerate a levee restoration project at Van Buskirk Park in South Stockton.
As a recognized expert in flood risk assessment and trusted community leader, we’re active collaborators in several research and planning efforts related to flood and emergency preparedness, spanning displacement avoidance strategies for green infrastructure projects, just economic transitions, climate adaptation, and hazard mitigation.
Artie Valencia is the Flood & Land Restoration Program Manager for Restore the Delta. Artie was born in the Bay Area but was raised in Stockton for the majority of her life. She spent her childhood skipping rocks along the Delta and riding bikes down the levee path with her friends. Artie has a degree in Biology from the University of California, Los Angeles. There, she worked on a variety of conservation projects and managed environmental and social justice clubs. In her time there, Artie organized fundraisers including but not limited to the Skirball fires, covid relief funds for immigrants and ocean conservation projects. She also studied abroad in Spain at the Universidad Internacional Menéndez Pelayo. Prior to college, she worked on water quality projects at the University of the Pacific and the Lawrence Livermore Lab. In her free time, she enjoys going to concerts, watching the latest movies, and writing fiction novels.
Connect: Artie@restorethedelta.org