While this flood mitigation work is underway, the city, county and USFS continue thinning projects and prescribed burns in and around Flagstaff.
The 2019 Museum Fire burned 1,961 acres of U.S. Forest Service (USFS) land plus a small amount of undeveloped private land. The Spruce Wash was impacted and the resulting flooding impacted the Elden Estates neighborhood in the county and residences along Grandview Blvd. and in Sunnyside.
The city has completed several flood mitigation projects to address the Spruce Wash flooding, with several left to implement using the $26 million bond recently approved by voters. Coconino County has also completed several projects and has a few scheduled to start soon.
The Pipeline Fire burned 26,532 acres of USFS land and about 180 acres of undeveloped private land. The western end of this fire significantly impacted the Schultz Creek watershed. To catch much of the downed trees, boulders and mud that comes off the mountain with floodwater, the city built two detention basins on city-owned property. The city has three connected projects in design, which are intended to convey water away from the Coconino Estates neighborhood.
Councilmember Miranda Sweet and I testified before the Arizona House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in support of $8.9 million that Rep. David Cook successfully included in a larger flood control bill. The committee approved this much-needed financial support and Councilmembers Sweet and Lori Matthews and I headed back to the legislature to support the bill in the Senate and with the Governor’s staff. I’m happy to report that this bill has passed out of appropriations and we’re optimistic that it will make it into the legislative budget. This money will pay for projects connected to the Pipeline West flood mitigation projects. We’ve fast-tracked these projects and will use general fund monies if project approvals come before we receive state funding.
In addition to general fund monies from both the city and the county, we’ve received nearly $25 million from the federal government for flood mitigation efforts. The city increased stormwater rates to cover operations and maintenance in addition to several critical projects throughout the community. The rate increased to $4.19 per Equivalent Rate Unit (ERU) on April 1. Each ERU is equal to 1,500 square feet of impervious area, such as paved roads, parking lots and roofs. The average ERU for residential properties in Flagstaff is three. The rate will increase 12% each year through January 2028.
Stormwater rates will fund these critical projects: low water crossing on Soliere Ave.; multiple projects along the Fanning Wash channel; drainage conveyance at Columbia Circle; regional flood detention facility at Wildwood Hills; neighborhood master drainage improvements for the Mobile Haven, Shadow Mountain and Smokerise neighborhoods; local cash match for the Rio de Flag flood control project; and the Switzer Canyon regional flood detention basin.
While this flood mitigation work is underway, the city, county and USFS continue thinning projects and prescribed burns in and around Flagstaff. These are funded and expected to be completed within the next several years. Next month, I’ll address what residents and business owners can do to help protect homes and businesses from wildfire. FBN
By Becky Daggett, FBN
Becky Daggett is the mayor of Flagstaff.