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The Planning Program, in support of the District's mission, strives to reduce flood risks for the people of Maricopa County, while providing opportunities to enjoy the natural and beneficial values associated with floodplains. The Program plans and facilitates the implementation of flood control projects, considering time and cost, while balancing both social and environmental considerations to provide the maximum public benefit.
The Planning Program attempts to identify potential flood control needs ahead of oncoming development. New development can have cumulative effects on drainage characteristics and can create new or impact existing flood hazards. Through proactive planning the District can avoid or minimize future needs for structural flood control projects. thereby reducing the cost to the public.
The Planning branch prepares comprehensive regional studies, drainage master plans and watercourse master plans; identifies areas and property with potential flood risk; and identifies regional flood control solutions for Maricopa County. A planning study includes an analysis of existing flood hazards and future conditions, and the generation and evaluation of alternative solutions. With input from involved agencies, the public, property owners and other stakeholders, the result is recommended solutions that propose the most effective and beneficial projects.
Planning Program activities include the Area Drainage Master Study (ADMS), Area Drainage Master Plan (ADMP), Watercourse Master Plan (WCMP), site specific master plans, project pre-design studies, Candidate Assessment Reports (CAR), and inter-agency coordination of projects and agreements.
Comprehensive Plan 2005
The Comprehensive Plan 2005 (Plan) is intended to be used as a general guide for future decision making in District project activities. The Plan aims to present adequate background information to aid District staff in prioritizing areas for future studies and projects. In addition, the Plan serves as a tool to help anticipate future revenue needs and may be used for policy making during the budgeting process.
The Comprehensive Plan is the first step in the overall planning process, providing the information on area problems and needs, and allowing the District to develop appropriate goals and objectives to move forward. The intent and goals of the Plan are implemented through tools such as the District Strategic Plan, Business and Financial Plans, Planning Branch studies, Delineation Branch studies, Capital Improvement Program, and adopted regulations and policy documents.
The purpose of the Comprehensive Plan is to:
- provide public information and education
- comply with Arizona Revised Statutes
- comply with the Community Rating System requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program
- identify project and program activity prioritization for watersheds
- determine level of future fiscal responsibilities for flood mitigation
The Plan includes aspects of the Growing Smarter Plus legislation (2000) and requirements of the Community Rating System of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). These elements make the Plan more compatible with other comprehensive planning documents for guiding future development. The Plan looks at all of the District's activities for providing flood control and floodplain management — from structural to non-structural solutions, education and regulation.
Flood Hazard Identification
The Flood Hazard Identification Program provides flood and erosion hazard information and documentation to the public about the dangers of erosion and flooding, the areas in which they occur, and remediation measures. This program includes: development of area drainage master plans, watercourse master plans, floodplain delineations, landscape aesthetics and recreation multi-use, integration of projects into the natural environment, and strategic and comprehensive plans.
Planning Studies
The District's Master Plan/Master Study concept attempts to bring together various agencies, industries, the public and other stakeholders for the process of identifying flood hazards and solutions to be implemented, and to gain valuable insight into the needs and desires of the concerned parties. The District uses this input from the communities in the process of developing alternative solutions to protect existing and future residents from possible damages associated with flooding, while considering other community benefits and the potential for aesthetic treatment and multiple-use opportunities of flood control projects.
These plans identify and incorporate unique characteristics to be preserved, and plan for ongoing land uses — both commercial and recreational. A variety of flood protection methods such as traditional structural, soft-structural, non-structural, and alternatives that include a combination of methods may be considered in an alternatives analysis as well as the effects of system hydrology (the distribution and circulation of water), hydraulics (water flow rates), shifts in water channel routes due to erosion, and sediment deposition.
An objective of the District's planning program is to provide opportunities for multiple uses of flood control projects including recreation, groundwater recharge, riparian habitat preservation or restoration, and other related enhancements that may be implemented by the involved agencies or other stakeholders providing they are consistent with the District's flood control mission.
The District's objective is to partner with agencies, property owners and other stakeholders to develop plans and implementation strategies that are mutually beneficial.
- Area Drainage Master Study (ADMS)
The purpose of the ADMS is to identify existing flood-prone areas and potential future conditions. The information is then used to identify areas which require flood mitigation, and to guide future development in those areas.
- Area Drainage Master Plan (ADMP)
The purpose of the ADMP is to develop plans to mitigate the flood hazards identified in the preceding ADMS. The major components of the ADMP include stakeholder and public involvement, biological and archeological assessments, landscape character assessment, evaluation of multi-use potential, inventory of known hazardous waste sites, engineering analyses and cost estimates for alternative flood protection facilities, and detailed engineering analyses of the recommended project features. The District’s objective is to integrate these components to develop solutions that are cost effective, provide a high level of flood protection, minimize impacts to natural and cultural resources, and consider aesthetic treatment and multiple-use opportunities where applicable to provide the most beneficial projects for the public.
- Watercourse Master Plan (WCMP)
The WCMP is similar to the ADMS/ADMP program but focuses on watercourses rather than watersheds or drainage areas. The primary goal of the WCMP is to provide information and develop alternative solutions that protect existing and future residents from possible damages associated with flooding.
Multiple-Use, Recreation and Aesthetic Treatment of Flood Control District Projects
An objective of the District is to provide opportunities for multiple uses of flood control projects including recreation, groundwater recharge, riparian habitat preservation or restoration, and other related enhancements providing they are consistent with the District’s flood control mission.
Floodprone Properties Assistance Program
In some areas building regional flood control structures is not feasible. For property owners in these areas, the District has developed a proactive Floodprone Properties Assistance Program ( FPAP) to provide funding for voluntary, non-structural mitigation measures to protect the public and reduce the occurrence of repetitive property damage. The FPAP includes floodproofing and acquisition of residential structures. Property owners apply for the FPAP voluntarily. After an application is received, the District evaluates the application to determine its eligibility for the FPAP and the degree of flood hazard the residential structure is potentially subject to. Eligibility does not, however, guarantee floodproofing, acquisition, or inclusion into the program.
- Floodproofing
When a property owner is eligible for the FPAP and has a relatively high flood hazard risk, the feasibility of floodproofing the structure will be evaluated first. If it is feasible and practical to floodproof a residential structure, the District will choose floodproofing as the proposed flood mitigation measure to the property owner. Floodproofing measures include elevating structures, building a floodwall, relocating structures, etc.
- Floodprone Properties Acquisition
When floodproofing is not practical or feasible, the property will be considered for acquisition. The acquisition process takes approximately 12 months from the application evaluation stage to receiving the acquisition offers. Acquisition offers are based on an appraisal conducted by independent appraisers and fair market value.
If you believe your property is eligible and you are interested in applying for the Floodprone Properties Assistance Program , please fill out an application and return it to the District. The submitted application will be reviewed to verify eligibility and then presented to the Program Committee for risk assessment and ranking. This is an ongoing program and applications will be accepted throughout the year; however, for consideration for floodproofing or acquisition during the following fiscal year (July 1 through June 30), applications must be received by the stated deadline on the application.
Completed applications may be faxed to the attention of John Hathaway at (602) 506-4601 or mailed to him c/o Flood Control District of Maricopa County, 2801 W. Durango St., Phoenix, AZ 85009.
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