Projects

The Flood Control District has done a broad general assessment of hazards and problems for watersheds within Maricopa County. Watersheds are ranked according to flood risk and development potential to determine priority areas for study. Projects go through many phases from conception to completion. A need in a certain area is established, a study is conducted and alternative solutions are developed. Alternatives are evaluated with input from the public, project partners and other stakeholders.

Maricopa County's vast size requires that the more specific hazards and problems be assessed by watershed through the Area Drainage Master Study/Plan (ADMS/ADMP) Program. An ADMP may cover one or more watersheds or part of a watershed. Rivers and major washes are studied under the Watercourse Master Plan (WCMP) Program. Delineation studies may be performed for hazard assessment of watercourses not covered in current or completed studies.

Project Process

The District's planning program conducts the ADMSs/ADMPs and WCMPs in Maricopa County. Areas in the County with existing flood hazards or with anticipated development are higher priorities for study. Areas may also be restudied when conditions change. Planning efforts may be conducted at the request of local governments within Maricopa County. The District typically works on regional drainage issues, with smaller, more localized drainage and flooding problems usually addressed by the local agencies.

District studies may include cultural and archeological resources assessments, environmental characteristics evaluation, environmental hazards identification, multi-use opportunities, stakeholder and public involvement, and the development and evaluation of alternatives, and may include a "Rules of Development" section, which applies non-structural and low-impact solutions to development while incorporating trails and other multi-use opportunities. Study teams are multi-disciplinary groups that include planners; landscape architects; engineers; regulatory staff; environmental, cultural and historical resource specialists; and fluvial geomorphologists (who study the effect of water flow on landforms). The District, local agencies, affected state and federal agencies, property owners and citizens participate in District studies.

Once a study is conducted and a preferred alternative or series of recommendations has been selected and approved by the District and its partner agencies, a proposed project can go in many different directions. If the project is in unincorporated Maricopa County, it is moved through the District prioritization process and is ranked for funding. If the project is in an incorporated area of the County and the city or town that benefits wants to implement the project, they can either submit the project through the District's Prioritization Procedure for ranking and District assistance or implement the project on their own.

Each year, many projects are submitted for prioritization and possible funding, and only a few projects may be recommended. Many plans are on hold until the resources can be found to take the plan to the next stage. Some projects may be submitted as plans directly into the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) without District participation in the planning process. The agencies involved may need help with funding, technical assistance, or design and construction. Projects that make it into the CIP are then scheduled for funding and labor hours.

Proposed projects may go through a pre-design study to develop more detailed information including design and construction costs, land acquisition requirements, required permits, mitigation and multiple-use potential.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) may be developed to indicate how the District and project partners will proceed with the project. An Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between the District and the project partner(s) must be approved and formally executed by the District's Board of Directors. The IGA defines the terms and responsibilities for a project and generally will be in place between the District and the project partner(s) prior to design and construction. These agreements will identify the lead agency and who will be responsible for all aspects of the project, including cost-sharing, design and rights-of-way acquisition through construction, construction management, and operations and maintenance. The District provides technical review and may often have the responsibility of managing consultant design contracts and/or construction contracts.

The District may also be responsible for operation and maintenance (O&M) of the projects. The District may turn over O&M of some projects to the partner agencies. This is more likely in projects that provide multi-use potential for trails and other types of recreation, open space, etc. Partner agencies have more interest in maintaining projects that provide both flood protection and a community amenity.