This very intense and widespread July 8, 1999 storm had flood flows that exceeded 100-year values and caused $20.5 million in public damages.

In 1959 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District issued a warning about a serious flooding problem in the Vegas valley. Since then Las Vegas has experienced at least 10 separate multi-million dollar floods during which 26 lives were lost in 13 separate flash flood events.

Las Vegas Strip

To engineer a solution, the Corps conducted studies between 1985 through 1991. The studies resulted in a plan to design a detention system to provide a 100-year level of protection by capturing and controlling alluvial fan flows entering Tropicana and Flamingo Washes, then releasing these flows through the highly urbanized areas at non-damaging rates.

The Red Rock detention basin undergoes construction to better protect against future flooding and damage

The Bureau of Land Management was consulted during the design phase resulting in plans to preserve the Mojave Desert Scrub and protect the desert tortoise.

The Tropicana Flamingo Project Delivery Team also sought a harmonious balance with the growing community by meeting with developers and local sponsors on a regular basis to design a flood control facility that would fit with development plans.

In summary, the Tropicana & Flamingo Washes flood control project is comprehensive and has interfaced with Clark County’s master plan. It is a designed detention system that will provide 100-year level protection by capturing and controlling alluvial fan flows entering Tropicana and Flamingo Washes and release them through the highly urbanized areas at non-damaging rates. It is also being built to accommodate new development and will allow existing streams in the urbanized area to handle the design event.