California Lawmakers Press FEMA Over $4.9 Million Delay Holding Up Malibu Wildfire Protection Project

MALIBU — More than a year after the devastating Palisades Fire underscored the importance of reliable water infrastructure during major wildfires, a nearly $5 million federal grant intended to strengthen emergency water supplies in western Malibu remains tied up at FEMA.

Joining Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla in pressing the Federal Emergency Management Agency for answers over the prolonged delay are Congressman Brad Sherman, who represents Malibu, and Congresswoman Julia Brownley.

Subscribe

The lawmakers warned that the stalled funding is preventing Los Angeles County from moving forward with a project designed to protect drinking water and maintain water flow to fire hydrants during emergencies.

At issue is the Encinal Canyon Road Emergency Interconnection Project, a roughly $9 million infrastructure project that would connect Los Angeles County Waterworks District 29 with the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District through approximately 7,000 feet of new water main.

The connection would give western Malibu a badly needed backup water source if its existing system is damaged or disrupted — a particularly significant safeguard for a community that currently depends on a single 35-mile transmission main running through steep, landslide-prone coastal terrain.

A failure along that system could jeopardize drinking water and fire protection for as many as 23,000 residents.

The concern carries added urgency following the January 2025 Palisades Fire, which devastated communities across the region, including Malibu. The disaster placed renewed attention on the resilience of local infrastructure and the ability of water systems to continue supporting firefighting operations during extreme emergencies.

Los Angeles County originally applied for federal assistance for the Encinal project in August 2023. FEMA selected the project in December 2024 for $4,893,885 through its Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors subsequently approved the project in November 2025.

But more than a year and a half after FEMA selected the project for funding, the agency still has not issued the formal Notice of Award needed for construction to proceed.

That has effectively left the project frozen. County officials cannot advertise the construction contract before FEMA formally releases the grant without risking the loss of the federal funding altogether.

Schiff, Sherman and the other lawmakers are now demanding that FEMA explain what is taking so long.

In a letter to FEMA Administrator David Hamilton, they asked the agency to provide the current status of its review, explain the reason for an extended environmental review and provide an estimated timeline for finally issuing the award.

FEMA has attributed the delay to an ongoing environmental review. The lawmakers, however, noted that the project consists primarily of installing buried pipeline within an existing roadway, that no notable environmental impacts are anticipated and that the project has already undergone environmental reviews required under state and local law.

The Encinal project is focused on preventing the next emergency from becoming worse. By linking two water systems, officials would have another source of water available during fires, infrastructure failures or other supply disruptions rather than relying on a single transmission line.

With the engineering work completed and county approval already secured, the remaining obstacle is federal action.

"The issuance of this grant is essential to strengthen critical infrastructure and ensure the community remains resilient in the face of increasing risk of natural disasters," Sherman, Schiff, Padilla and Brownley wrote.

The lawmakers are asking FEMA to move expeditiously to resolve the review and release the funding, arguing that continued delays are no longer simply an administrative issue but one with direct consequences for wildfire preparedness and public safety in western Malibu.