“Since 2022, post-wildfire flooding impacts from the Pipeline Fire have severely impacted the interstate travel corridor of Highway 89, the Navajo Nation road system, and surrounding communities. It is imperative that we continue to construct flood mitigation infrastructure in this area to reduce the threats to our community and regional economy” said Jeronimo Vasquez, Chair of the Coconino County Board and Supervisor for District 2. “Thanks to the Congressionally Directed Spending funds recently secured by Senators Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema, we now have more resources to make this much needed infrastructure a reality.”
Tag: Coconino County Flood Control District
Coconino County Flood Control District, Coconino National Forest to collaborate on forest restoration plan for Upper Rio De Flag Watershed
FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Flood Control District (The District) and the Coconino National Forest have announced a new Upper Rio De Flag Watershed restoration plan to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire and post-fire flooding.
“It’s been proven that forest restoration — including mechanical thinning and prescribed fire — is an effective tool to reduce wildfire spread and severity,” said Coconino County Forest Restoration Director Jay Smith. “The completion of forest restoration in Upper Rio De Flag Watershed will provide a multi-generational benefit to our region.”
Flood Control District Completes Phase II of the Park Way Sediment Basins
Coconino County Flood Control District Reports Successful Performance of Flood Mitigation
COCONINO COUNTY — The Coconino County Flood Control District (District) recently completed upwards of $35 million in on-forest watershed restoration and neighborhood flood mitigation in five flood corridors including Phase 1 of the Schultz Creek on-forest measures.
The Wupatki Trails and Brandis Way watersheds experienced 100-year rainfall events today, July 30, with a total of three inches of rainfall in two hours, with most of the rainfall concentrated in the first hour. The District is pleased to report this evening the recently completed measures both on- and off-forest performed exceptionally well with no flood impacts to roads or private property in those areas.
Flood Control District and Coconino National Forest to Begin Schultz Creek Watershed Restoration
The Coconino County Flood Control District and the Coconino National Forest will begin the first phase of watershed restoration project in Schultz Creek this spring.
This watershed restoration project is an effort to respond to post-fire flooding caused by the 2022 Pipeline Fire, which damaged the Schultz Creek watershed, dramatically increasing levels of flow and erosion in Schultz Creek, which overwhelmed downstream stormwater infrastructure in the City of Flagstaff. The Coconino County Flood Control District (the District) will begin the project the week of May 22, and the first phase of construction is expected to run through June.
Coconino County Flood Control District Approved For $90 Million in Federal Funding
The $1.7 trillion Fiscal Year 2023 Appropriations Bill was passed by Congress today, expected to be signed by President Biden tomorrow.
Congress acted today to approve the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, which includes funding for federal programs that support post-wildfire watershed restoration and flood mitigation. The legislation includes an overall $925 million for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWPP). The Coconino County Flood Control District (District) has two approved projects on the EWPP Project Waitlist totaling $50 million. The projects will provide flood mitigation in six neighborhoods within the Schultz/Pipeline Flood Area. The District will be considering in the near future the acceptance of these grants including ways to allocate the $12.5 million in required local matching funds.
Coconino County Flood Control District Briefs Federal Officials on Long-Term Flood Mitigation Plan
Coconino County Flood Control District hosted Congressman Tom O’Halleran and officials from the United States Department of Agriculture, United States Forest Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Federal Highway Administration, and the City of Flagstaff for a comprehensive briefing and tour of the Schultz/Pipeline Flood Area.
Flood Control District officials presented the District’s long-term plan for flood mitigation, briefing Congressman O’Halleran and federal officials about the new situation communities now face after nine critical watersheds were severely damaged by the recent Pipeline Fire. Flood Control District Administrator Lucinda Andreani, along with engineering partners, also presented a thorough long-term plan for flood mitigation on the east and west side of the San Francisco Peaks.
Notice of Flood Control District Public Outreach Meeting on June 23
On Thursday June 23, 2022, at 6:30 p.m., the Coconino County Flood Control District will hold a virtual meeting to present important information to the communities of Timberline, Wupatki Trails, Fernwood, and Doney Park regarding flood threat, risk, and mitigation efforts as a result of the Pipeline, Tunnel, and Schultz Fires.
This outreach meeting will be held via webinar using Zoom video conferencing software, members of the community are encouraged to participate via the following url: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87072153234 or toll-free via telephone: (833) 548 0282, Webinar ID: 870 7215 3234.
Coconino County Flood Control District mobilizing flood mitigation effort
As Coconino County residents begin to return to their homes in the aftermath of the Pipeline and Haywire fires, the County’s Flood Control District would like to make the entire community aware of the potential risk of flooding, and the steps the public can take to mitigate their property and be Flood Aware.
Residents may already be familiar with the 3 Step “Ready, Set, Go” wildfire system of preparedness and evacuation. For the risk of flooding, a similar, easy-to-remember system of “Ready, Set, Shelter” is helpful to prepare for and respond to flood events:
Installation has begun on Museum Fire flood area siren alerting system
The City of Flagstaff (City) and the Coconino County Flood Control District (District), with significant financial support from the AZ Depart. of Forestry and Fire Management, have begun installing a siren alerting system to help warn residents of imminent flooding in neighborhoods downstream of the Museum Fire burn scar. Four elevated high power speaker arrays will be installed throughout the Grandview Homes and Sunnyside neighborhoods and will emit alarm sounds and voice messages when rain thresholds are triggered within the Museum Fire burn scar.
Sandbags available for residents impacted by Museum Fire flooding
The City of Flagstaff and the Coconino County Flood Control District are helping residents in neighborhoods downstream of the Museum Fire burn scar prepare for the 2022 monsoon season by placing pallets of new sandbags and trash bins throughout neighborhoods, which residents can use to repair their sandbag walls. Materials will be available from May 13 through July 1, 2022.
Sediment Reduction Project Breaks Ground in Museum Flood Area
A Coconino County Flood Control District project to reduce sediment production and transport on private lands below the Museum Fire burn scar is underway in Lockett Ranches & Mt. Elden Estates.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service and District-funded Emergency Watershed Protection Project will reduce erosion and sediment transport downstream.
NRCS Approves $3.5 million for Museum Fire Watershed Restoration on Private Land
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has approved the Coconino County Flood Control District’s request for $3.5 million to construct watershed restoration measures on private lands in the Museum Flood Area.
These watershed restoration measures are being done to reduce flooding impacts to private properties and will reduce the level of sediment entering Flagstaff.
Museum Flood Area July 15 update
The following email was sent to Museum Flood Area residents (the evening of July 15:)
Below is a summary of today’s activities by the Coconino County Flood Control District and City of Flagstaff related to the Museum Flood Area and the nearby neighborhoods susceptible to monsoonal flooding:
– States of Emergency: Today Flagstaff Mayor Paul Deasy and Coconino County Chair of the Board of Supervisors Matt Ryan declared States of Emergency on behalf of the City of Flagstaff and Coconino County due to the impacts of monsoonal flooding to the Museum Flood Area and other parts of Flagstaff, which started July 13, 2021. Declaring a State of Emergency allows the City and County to expend emergency funds from all available sources and request assistance from the State of Arizona.
Coconino County, City of Flagstaff Prepare for Monsoon Storms In the Museum Flood Area
The Coconino County Flood Control District and City of Flagstaff are preparing for possible flash flooding this week in the Museum Flood Area.
The National Weather Service (NWS) is predicting a moderate threat of flooding over the next several days from monsoon storms, including scattered thunderstorms and rain showers in Flagstaff with the greatest threat on Tuesday. These storms may impact the Museum burn scar and cause flooding to downstream neighborhoods.
County flood analysis completed
COCONINO COUNTY — Coconino County Flood Control District officials have completed a flood analysis and the effects of the Museum Fire on the Burris Watershed. The analysis shows that the watershed will not experience increased flooding due to the Museum Fire…