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Dramatic population growth in Maricopa County has made its residents susceptible to damages from flooding, erosion and sediment discharge.
Maricopa County is located in south-central Arizona within the upper Sonoran Desert. It has a land area of 9,226 square miles, of which nearly 85 percent is unincorporated. The County has a larger area than seven states and the District of Columbia, and is ranked the 14th largest county in land area.
Arizona is one of the fastest growing states in the nation. Between 2000 and 2006, the state's population increased by more than 15 percent to an estimated 5.9 million. Arizona is ranked the 17th most populous state, up from No. 20 in 2000. The U.S. Census Bureau projects the state's population will nearly double by 2030. Much of the population increase can be attributed to growth in Maricopa County, the nation's fourth most populous county, which gained an estimated 798,000 new residents from 2000 through 2007 for a total population of 3.9 million.
There will be implications for the Flood Control District if this rate of growth continues to take place in the County. Population growth is pushing more people to build in higher flood risk areas, such as agricultural lands, washes, and areas not protected by existing flood control structures and facilities. Regulations are in place in many communities that prohibit the development of land with flood and erosion hazards, however there are more than one million acres of land in the County with the potential for additional development.
To protect residents from flood hazards by regulating where development can occur, the District conducts floodplain delineation studies throughout the County. Floodplain delineation involves the development of detailed topographic maps to determine where rainfall runoff goes during a storm. By delineating floodplains, the District can locate flood hazard areas and development can be regulated in those areas. More than 90 percent of the County's residents live or will live within watersheds with delineated floodplains and floodways. The District attempts to stay ahead of development by continuing floodplain delineation in previously undefined areas.
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