In 2017, as a part of the Small Communities Flood Risk Reduction Program, the California Department of Water Resources awarded Sutter County $3 million for flood risk reduction studies for the communities of Meridian, Nicolaus, Rio Oso, Robbins, Sutter, and Tudor. These funds will be used to identify locally supported projects to improve flood facilities and reduce flood risk.

The Small Communities Flood Risk Reduction Program is a cost-share funding program that provides assistance to communities with 200 to 10,000 residents that are protected by the State Plan of Flood Control. The program was created as a result of the 2012 Central Valley Flood Protection Plan and is intended to reduce flood risk for small communities.

Communities selected to receive funding through Small Communities Program's first phase will be awarded funds to complete a feasibility study of flood risk reduction projects. Funding for design and construction will be awarded in subsequent phases. These projects must repair, rehabilitate, reconstruct, or replace State Plan of Flood Control facilities (e.g. levees, weirs, bypasses) and be consistent with the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan goals and objectives.

The completed feasibility studies for the two communities can be accessed below: