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Extracted from Consolidated Report

This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.

Score: -1 (1/0/2)

Butte County Grand Jury • 2024-2025

Ditches, Disease, and Delay: Palermo's Flooding Failures

17 pages

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⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.

⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.

Findings 7 findings

F1 Page 44

Butte County Public Works is responsible for and can be authorized by CDFW to clean all ditches for the citizens of Butte County, including Palermo. This will ameliorate the flooding causing school closings, business losses, car accidents, street obstructions, and health hazards.

F2 Page 44

A small stormwater drainage system at Lincoln and Palermo Road is inefficient and insufficient to move water out of that area, causing potholes and risk of car accidents in this heavily trafficked area.

F3 Page 44

Palermo Citizens deserve clean, safe streets and a community that is protected from annual flooding by having ongoing maintenance of Butte County-owned infrastructure.

F4 Page 44

Palermo infrastructure improvement projects addressing flooding issues are not included in the 2024 Butte County Public Works Infrastructure Master Plan. Example: Palermo Four Corners Storm Water Drain System Project

F5 Page 44

Butte County Water Resources and Conservation Department has shown admirable initiative in trying to solve the flooding in Palermo, including an excellent study by West Yost. 44

F6 Page 45

Butte County Public Works has grant writing expertise but sometimes must also rely on outside grant writers with its implied additional expense. Other county departments rely mainly on outside grant writers but would favor using county grant writer staff who are currently overworked.

F7 Page 45

Neglect or delays in the implementation of solutions have resulted in business losses for Palermo and a lack of trust and confidence among its citizens.

Recommendations 9

R1
Page 46

Public Works District 6 By October 1, 2025 $50,000--100,000
R2
Page 46

Public Works District 6 By September 30, 2025 Staff time
R3
Page 46

Public Works Annual by March 31 Staff time
R4
Page 46

Public Works District 6 By August 1, 2025 $10,000--20,000
R5
Page 46

Public Works By May 1, 2026 $25,000--50,000
R6
Page 46

Board of Supervisors By October 15, 2025 Staff time
R7
Page 46

Board of Supervisors By November 1, 2025 Staff time 46
R8
Page 47

Butte County By October 31, 2026 $80,000- 120,000/year
R9
Page 47

Board of Supervisors By May 31, 2027 Staff time APPENDIX: PRIORITY DRAINAGE CLEANUP PLAN Required Action: Remove all cattails and vegetation on ditch banks and bottoms (as in 7059 Perkins Avenue) Resource Estimates: a crew of 8 from Public Works could clear approximately 10,000 feet of drainage ditch with light vegetation in 2 days. Heavy vegetation will slow progress. But the use of specialized equipment like the Rotary Ditch Cleaner GR70 or similar would significantly expedite ditch cleanup work. Summer 2025 Priority Sections (estimated lengths) 1. High Priority (800 feet) -- Perkins Ave to Palermo Ave 2. Critical Flow Path (1,300 feet) -- South Villa to Railroad Ave 3. Main Drainage (1,300 feet) -- Railroad Ave to Wyman Tributary 4. Critical Intersection Clearance of Perkins-- 20 ft upstream/downstream at: a. Palermo Rd b. Kenilworth Rd c. Williams Rd d. Ludlum Rd 47

Agency Responses 1

Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.

Butte County WRC Response to 2024-2025 Grand Jury Report - Ditches, Disease, and Delay

August 26, 2025 • 2 pages • 4 responses • Score: -1 (+1, 0, -2) View Details ▾

PDF

4 responses to findings and recommendations

There has not been prompt, targeted communication to citizens about the status of stalled projects.

Response: Agree Score: +1

F5: Butte County Water Resources and Conservation Department has shown admirable initiative in trying to solve the flooding in Palermo, including an excellent study by West Yost. Response: The respondent agrees with the finding.

Wyandotte Basin GSA must sponsor and collaborate on projects addressing dry wells and water quality as mandated by SB 552

Response: Disagree Score: -1

F6: Butte County Public Works has grant writing expertise but sometimes must also rely on outside grant writers with its implied additional expense. Other county departments rely mainly on outside grant writers but would favor using county grant writer staff who are currently overworked. Response: The respondent disagrees with the finding. The Department cannot specifically confirm the expertise of Public Works' staff and whether or not other County departments rely mainly on outside grant writers for grant procurement activities. The Department does have staff with grant-writing expertise, an...

The Grand Jury recommends that Butte County Administration utilize Facebook, public noticeboards at USPS, flyers at public gatherings to remind Butte County citizens that they should report issues via County Connect website, or its replacement, to log requests for work that must be expedited by December 31, 2025. 30

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

R6: The Grand Jury recommends that the Butte County Board of Supervisors establish a Palermo Task Force by Octobe

Board of Supervisors By May 31, 2027 Staff time APPENDIX: PRIORITY DRAINAGE CLEANUP PLAN Required Action: Remove all cattails and vegetation on ditch banks and bottoms (as in 7059 Perkins Avenue) Resource Estimates: a crew of 8 from Public Works could clear approximately 10,000 feet of drainage ditch with light vegetation in 2 days. Heavy vegetation will slow progress. But the use of specialized equipment like the Rotary Ditch Cleaner GR70 or similar would significantly expedite ditch cleanup wo...

Response: Will Not Implement

Score: -1

R9: The Grand Jury recommends that the Butte County Board of Supervisors establish a Butte County Flood Protection and Drainage District to overcome current ditch maintenance funding issues by May 3 I, 2027. Response: The recommendation will not be implemented by the Department of Water and Resource Conservation. This recommendation falls outside the jurisdiction and responsibilities of the Department. The Department is not tasked with ditch maintenance or with the formation or administration of special districts related to flood protection or drainage. As such, it is not in a position to dete...