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 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](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090109082419im_/http://www.spl.usace.army.mil/cms/images/stories/newscastle/oct2006/dsc00172_sm.jpg) 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 Suncups. Hedgehog cactus. Poison hemlock. Bull thistle. Showy golden-eye. Western blue flag. Alligator juniper. Poor man’s pepperwort. Hooker’s primrose. Yellow monkey flower. Grass leaf tansy-aster. Siberian elm. Alkali pink. American vetch.
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. The city and the Corps are working to reduce the risk of damage from flooding.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090109082419im_/http://www.spl.usace.army.mil/cms/images/stories/newscastle/oct2006/dsc00174_sm.jpg) The city and the Corps are working to reduce the risk of damage from flooding. Since 1997 the Los Angeles District has been studying and planning a twin project to address both flood damage reduction and recreation. It originally was authorized for $24 million, and District team members are currently working with elected officials to reauthorize it for $54 million. The construction startup date depends on that reauthorization. “This is of great benefit to the Corps,” said District senior planner Kim Gavigan, “and the city is looking at this as a huge boost to its redevelopment, particularly the south side.”
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 According to Coconino County Historical Hazard records: 10 flood events caused 18 deaths, 10 injuries and did $9.3M property damage](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090109082419im_/http://www.spl.usace.army.mil/cms/images/stories/newscastle/oct2006/dsc00175_sm.jpg) According to Coconino County Historical Hazard records: 10 flood events caused 18 deaths, 10 injuries and did $9.3M property damage The project’s importance has ballooned over the years. Like most other parts of the Southwest, Flagstaff has seen its population soar, and nearly half of Rio de Flag’s so-called 100-year floodplain now includes residential areas. The city’s population is an estimated 65,000, Coconino County’s roughly double that. Commercially zoned structures and the Northern Arizona University campus also would be vulnerable to the worst flood that might occur in a century.
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. |