Millions in Federal Funding Awarded for Long-Delayed San Luis Rey River Project

Seven projects in San Diego County will share over $32 million in federal funds secured by California's senators.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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The largest portion of the $32 million in federal funding, $26 million, will go towards the San Luis Rey River project in Oceanside to repair levees, remove sediment and sand, and lessen flood risks. The project was originally approved in 1970 to provide a '250-year level of flood protection' but decades of construction delays have left the community's flood protection at an estimated 70-year level. The funding will also support other projects in the region, including mental health services, transportation improvements, and STEM education programming.

Why it matters

The San Luis Rey River project has been long-delayed, leaving the Oceanside community vulnerable to devastating floods. This federal funding will help address critical infrastructure needs and provide much-needed flood protection for residents, businesses, and local institutions. The additional projects funded also aim to improve community services and educational opportunities across San Diego County.

The details

The $26 million in funding for the San Luis Rey River project will go towards geotechnical investigations, levee repairs, and sediment removal. The project was originally approved in 1970 to provide a '250-year level of flood protection' but decades of construction delays have left the community's flood protection at an estimated 70-year level. The other projects receiving funding include $2 million for pediatric mental health services at Rady Children's Hospital, $1.2 million for SPRINTER platform and track enhancements, $1 million for a San Diego homeless shelter, $1 million to replace an 80-year-old water pipeline in Fallbrook, $655,000 to support workforce training and basic needs at local community colleges, and $236,000 for STEM education programming.

  • The San Luis Rey River project was originally approved in 1970.
  • The federal funding was announced on Friday, February 20, 2026.

The players

Sen. Alex Padilla

One of California's two U.S. senators, a Democrat who helped secure the federal funding.

Sen. Adam Schiff

The other of California's two U.S. senators, a Democrat who also helped procure the federal funds.

Esther Sanchez

The mayor of Oceanside, who called the funding a 'long overdue investment' that will allow for sand replenishment on local beaches and restore reliable flood and fire protection.

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What they’re saying

“Oceanside residents depend on the San Luis Rey River Project to protect their homes, schools and businesses from devastating flooding. After years of project delays, this surge in bipartisan federal funding Senator Schiff and I fought for will make critical levee repairs and remove dangerous sediment buildup to mitigate flood risk for vulnerable Oceanside communities.”

— Sen. Alex Padilla (timesofsandiego.com)

“For decades, the Oceanside community has been at the mercy of aging flood protection systems that threaten residents, the local economy, and infrastructure in the region. These federal dollars will underwrite work toward mitigating those flood risks.”

— Sen. Adam Schiff (timesofsandiego.com)

“This long overdue investment will allow for sand replenishment on our starved beaches and restore reliable flood and fire protection for our residents and businesses.”

— Esther Sanchez, Mayor of Oceanside (timesofsandiego.com)

What’s next

The federal funding will allow the San Luis Rey River project to move forward with geotechnical investigations, levee repairs, and sediment removal to improve flood protection for the Oceanside community.

The takeaway

This federal investment in the San Luis Rey River project and other critical infrastructure and community services across San Diego County demonstrates a bipartisan commitment to addressing long-standing challenges and improving the quality of life for local residents.