Kelli A Sertich, AICP, CFMPolicy, Planning, & Coordination Branch Manager

Making it Work: Flood Mitigation Best Practices and Success Stories

Flood Control District of Maricopa County

2018 ASFPM National Conference June 21, 2018

Heading

Which State has the highest hidden flood risk?

………The answer? Arizona.“In the case of Arizona, its surprisingly high flood risk stems from the fact that a large proportion of Phoenix lies along the Salt River ……… Phoenix area is interlaced with irrigation canals ……”

Report states that AZ has the highest percentage of homes

that sit outside the FEMA SFHA68%

The Numbers

Maricopa County

• 9,226 square miles

• 25 Cities/Towns

• ~2,200 square miles urbanized area

• 4+ million residents

• 743 square miles of 100 year floodplain 4,112 lineal miles

214 square miles outside of 500 year

floodplain (Unshaded X)

Place Square Miles

Maricopa County 9,226

New Jersey 8,723

Holland 2,119

Rhode Island 1,212

Maricopa County, Arizona

Managing Floods Where Mountains Meet the Desert

Flood Risk in Maricopa County

• 2 Rainy Seasons – Winter & Monsoon

• Average Annual Rainfall - ~8 inches

• Flash Flooding, Sheet Flow

• Drought

Sheet flow in August 2003

Storm

Photography courtesy of

KPHO, Channel 5 News

Nursery built in FloodwaySept 8, 2014 Storm

Skunk Creek - New River Arizona

July 2015Wickenburg

Structures Overview

2014 needs assessment +$2.3 billion

• 1959 Flood Control District Legislation

• $2.3 billion from 1960-2013

• 151 structures – feds & partnerships

• Operation and Maintenance

Structures Success

Flood Control District Evolution

Concrete Period

Typical Conveyance Channel

Arizona Canal Diversion Channel (Pre Trapezoidal Period)

Flood Control District Evolution

Bullard Wash, Goodyear

Agua Fria 5/21/03

Wire Tied Reno Mattresses, concrete staining, walking path

Soil Cement Period

Structures Success

Indian Bend Wash – Sept 8, 2014

Structures Success

Casandro Wash Dam, Wickenburg

Structures Success

July 18, 2015

Flood Warning & ALERT

• Daily Weather Information

• Emergency Action Plans, Response Plans

• 397 ALERT stations

• Flashing Road Signs

• Notifying O&M staff, Emergency Management, First Responders

Actions

• Watershed Planning Studies –Get Ahead of Development

• Floodplain Delineations

• Regulations –Floodplain & Drainage

• Partnerships

Funding Programs

• Capital Improvement Program Prioritization Procedure (CIPPP)

• Small Projects Assistance Program (SPAP)

• Floodprone Properties Assistance Program (FPAP)

Programs Successes

• 151 Structures all functioned during 2014 Storms

• 49 SPAP Projects completed, 11 under construction

• 60 homes removed from floodways with FPAP

• Wickenburg Powderhouse Wash Voluntary Buyout – 2015 storm

Summary

• Planning & Delineation Studies to identify hazards ahead of development

• Steady program of building structural solutions with partners

• Best Practices Guidelines – Drainage Policies & Standards and Hydrology Manuals

• Floodplain and Drainage Regulations

• Voluntary Buyouts

• Small Projects Assistance Program

• Outreach and Education

Coming Soon!

• Modifications to SPAP

• Expanding FPAP for floodproofing commercial buildings

• Expanding Outreach & Education

• Interactive Flood Simulation –STEM Curriculum

• Water Conservation & Open Space

Questions?

www.fcd.maricopa.gov