Arizona/Nevada Highlights - Integrated Plan Addresses Flooding and Redevelopment in Flagstaff
By Mike Tharp  Typically little more than a trickle of water, the Rio de Flag can become a raging river when the spring snow-melt hits the San Francisco Peaks above the city of Flagstaff
Just a sample bouquet of the 112 plant species found along a mile-and-a-half stretch of the Rio de Flag River near Flagstaff, Ariz. The Rio de Flag is a tributary of the San Francisco Wash, in turn a kid brother to the mighty Colorado River. The Rio de Flag rises out of basalt, igneous rock through which its waters percolate, one reason so many flowers and other plants flourish along its winding course. With all that natural beauty flanking its banks, the river wouldn’t seem to pose a problem for residents, visitors or structures in northern Arizona. But like a lot of pretty rivers in dry zones, it tends to flood after gully-washers and snow-melt runoff. With deadly clockwork, floods inundated Flagstaff in 1888, 1896, 1903, 1916, 1920, 1923, 1937, 1938, 1950, 1963, 1966, 1973, 1979, 1983, 1988, 1990, 1993 and 1995. According to Coconino County historical hazard records, the last ten floods were responsible for 18 deaths and $9.3 million in property damage.  The city and the Corps are working to reduce the risk of damage from flooding.
Sen. John Kyl announced in November 2005 that $3.5 million had been appropriated for the Rio de Flag project in the Energy and Water Appropriations bill. Congressman Rick Renzi added that Rio de Flag drainage channel area improvements would include replacement of five bridges, which would “enhance downtown’s transportation options and provide new recreation trails used by both people and bicycles.” The project “is critical to the city’s economic growth and prosperity and will protect thousands of structures,” he said. Added Louis Uptmor, acting project manager for the Corps, “They’ve (Arizona’s elected officials) been instrumental at getting appropriations for us to continue with the design, and their influence will be a major component of when we’ll be able to start construction.”  According to Coconino County Historical Hazard records: 10 flood events caused 18 deaths, 10 injuries and did $9.3M property damage
Included in such a bulwark will be channel and bridge modifications, a detention basin, berms and floodwalls. Recreational features include multipurpose trails and an underpass to the south side at the new railroad bridge. Anticipating the project’s completion, the city of Flagstaff has contracted an architectural team to prepare an urban design master plan to spruce up the city’s south side. “The flood control project will realign and restore the Rio de Flag’s channel to its historic outfall in order to minimize potential flood damages,” the city’s Web site said.
Mayor Joe Donaldson called the project “a crucial component to our downtown redevelopment, Northern Arizona University campus master planning and addressing community storm water runoff.” He estimated that the city’s redevelopment programs would attract more than $100 million in private investment. Los Angeles District’s Planning Branch is the prime mover in problem-solving for water resources, which ultimately leads to federal action on a project. Once the Rio de Flag project is completed, residents, businesses and all that abundant plant and animal life along its banks can live and breathe more safely. |
