REGISTER for Smith Canal Gate Closure text alerts!
Text "gate" to 1-833-573-6395

ALERT: The Smith Canal Gate will be closed for 30 minutes between 1-3:30 p.m., Thursday, October 9!

Questions about the project? Please call our Project Hotline at (209) 487-1387. 

Revised FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map takes effect February 9, 2026

On September 23, 2025, the Federal Emergency Management Agency issued a revised Flood Insurance Rate map for the Smith Tract area. The map will become effective on February 9, 2026 following a mandatory 120-day protest period, barring any protests.

What this means: Flood insurance will not be mandatory after February 9, 2026. Property owners who are required to purchase flood insurance should maintain their policies through this date.

Letter of Map Revision Determination Document and Revised Flood Insurance Rate Map

SJAFCA is in the process of preparing mailed notices to property owners to inform them of the revised map and its effective date.

Boating Safety through and around Smith Canal Gate

The Smith Canal Gate is new to Delta boaters.The San Joaquin Area Flood Control Agency encourages all boaters to practice safe navigation around and through the gate. Check out the following resources for more information:

ABCs of CA Boating: A guide to boating law and safety
U.S. Coast Guard Safe Boating

The Smith Canal Gate Project is part of the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Lower San Joaquin River Project and will be part of the State Plan of Flood Control. It includes a floodwall along the San Joaquin River between Dad’s Point and the eastern boundary of the Stockton Golf & Country Club, tying into the existing Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) accredited levee. The floodwall will feature a gate for boat access to Atherton Cove and Smith Canal. The gate will remain open, except during high water and tide events and for periodic testing. Dad’s Point will be raised and strengthened to allow certification as a levee. The Smith Canal Gate Project will meet State and Federal standards for flood protection by isolating Smith Canal from the San Joaquin River during high water and tide events.

Construction began in July 2020. 

Project Overview

Project will End Mandatory Flood Insurance and FEMA-Related Building Restrictions

Once FEMA accredits the project, it will “remap” the Smith Canal area to remove the “high risk” flood zone designation. This will eliminate mandatory flood insurance requirements and FEMA-related building restrictions for approximately 5,000 properties, and prevent approximately 3,000 additional properties from being mapped into a high-risk zone. Property owners will be able to purchase flood insurance at low-risk rates. FEMA previously reissued a Conditional Letter of Map Revision, or CLOMR, confirming that the project will provide the required 100-year flood protection, if constructed as designed. Until FEMA has issued new Flood Insurance Rate Maps, properties in a Special Flood Hazard Area (high-risk flood zone) will remain subject to mandatory flood insurance (properties with federally-backed mortgages) and building restrictions (all properties). If you have flood insurance, please check with your insurance provider on costs for policy renewals.