In 1983, a deluge of thousands of gallons of water flooded the streets of Maricopa, putting residents’ lives at risk and causing millions of dollars in damage. A quarter-century later, Maricopa has exploded with growth, and housing developments have now sprung up in areas that were once farmland. Yet, the threat of a future flood remains for more than 400 homes in an area that city leaders hope to one day turn into a bustling center of commercial activity. To address the issue, the city contracted with Phoenix-based HDR Engineering in April to complete a master drainage and study plan, which is now being reviewed by city staff. The plan calls for the construction of a three-mile long channel running parallel with the Union Pacific railroad track east of John Wayne Parkway. This channel would include a 600-acre area stretching north of the tracks to State Route 238 and west of John Wayne Parkway, with the exception of half the homes in the Acacia Crossings subdivision. Homeowners in the region are spending $500 to $1,200 a year on flood insurance, said Linda Potter, water resources sector manager for HDR. During the nearly six-month development of the plan, Porter’s firm collected data about the tendencies in the flood plain and presented possible options to the public for feedback. After the review process is complete and city council signs off on the plan, staff will begin a review process with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Pinal County. It’s estimated the review could take more than six months. “The approval timeline from FEMA is hard to gauge,” said city senior engineer Kelli Kurtz. Maricopa officials want to move quickly on the flood-control plan because it has a direct impact on another big-city project: the redevelopment district. The entire section of land that city leaders are seeking to revitalize sits in the flood plain. “Building in a flood zone scares developers off,” said Potter, who added when a building is constructed in a designated flood plain, the elevation must be raised above the potential flood level. In Maricopa, this requirement could translate to a developer having to raise their structure almost five feet, Potter said. The channel option would be one similar to the Indian Bend Wash greenbelt in Scottsdale. The Indian Bend Wash, which was also constructed as a flood-control method, runs 7.5 miles and connects four parks and continuous pathways, making it a popular area for rollerblading, jogging and bike riding. “We are designing a similar wash to (Indian Bend) Scottsdale so that the channel would be surrounded by a bike path, park or another multi-use area,” Potter said. Depending on which features are included in the initial construction, the wash could cost from $10 million to $20 million, including the property acquisition and the construction of a bridge at Maricopa Road, Potter said. Currently, the city has $8 million budgeted in the 2010 fiscal year’s capital improvements plan and another $13 million slated in its future plan to construct parks and trails. Even with a completed plan and funding in place, the soonest the area could be removed from the flood zone is three years. “This is an important project for the city,” Kurtz said. Submitted photo |