Flood Control Archived News

Dec 09, 2021 - District workers and contractors were in the Alamo Wash to remove cracked and damaged concrete and prepare for the installation of new reinforcements. "Regular maintenance and repair work like this in Alamo Wash represents a big part of what the District does,” Flood Control District Director Suzanne Shields said. “By addressing storm damage quickly we avoid larger, costlier repairs and can better protect private property from flooding.”  

Dec 09, 2021 - In 2016, the Regional Flood Control District began restoring a 15-acre dirt site in the Rillito River Park near North Columbus Boulevard. A recent walk through the reseeded area, replete with waist-high grasses and other native plants, testify to the success of the restoration.  

Oct 08, 2021 - After numerous flood events coursed through area waterways, Pima County Regional Flood Control and County staff decided to inspect some areas that saw the heaviest flows. They assessed the conditions of the Cañada del Oro Wash and the Rillito and Santa Cruz rivers; any damage that may have occurred to flood systems; and revisited possible long-term management strategies. 

Jul 01, 2021 - Longterm drought has left us vulnerable to potential flooding this monsoon.  

May 28, 2021 - Floodplain GIS Data Available to the Public 

May 27, 2021 - Department News Article Summary Goes Here 

Apr 14, 2021 - Brawley Wash Watershed Plan 

Apr 14, 2021 - Additional effluent made possible through agreement between Tucson and Pima County 

Feb 04, 2021 - Notice of Proposed Grant Easement No. E-0234 

Feb 04, 2021 - Notice of Proposed Grant Easement No. E-0235 

Jan 27, 2021 - Notice of Proposed Grant Easement No. E-0231 

Jan 26, 2021 - Community meeting set for Feb. 19. 

Oct 22, 2020 - Project a partnership between Flood Control, Town of Marana. 

Oct 01, 2020 - Centers have been closed since March due to pandemic. 

Sep 28, 2020 - Trails partially managed by Pima County had been closed due to Bighorn Fire. 

Sep 25, 2020 - District Recognized as 2020 Weather Ready Nation 

Aug 25, 2020 - Event supports Drowning Impact Awareness Month.  

Aug 12, 2020 - Notice of Proposed Draft Ordinance Revision - In Lieu Fee 

Jun 01, 2020 - Red Butte LOMR and TSDN now Effective 

Apr 23, 2020 - Santa Cruz River Dredging and Heritage Waters 

Apr 07, 2020 - Completed habitat projects will serve as mitigation for development projects  

Mar 17, 2020 - Flood Control District Covid-19 response for permits 

Feb 25, 2020 - Floodplain Management Plan Open House 

Feb 21, 2020 - Property owners in affected area will no longer need to purchase flood insurance 

Feb 18, 2020 - El Vado Wash Letter of Map Revision 

Feb 13, 2020 - Relocating reptiles, including rare iguanas, part of effort. 

Dec 11, 2019 - Canoa Hills Trails Park Benefits from Partnerships 

Oct 15, 2019 - Alamo Wash Floodplain Revision 

Oct 10, 2019 - Report highlights the increase in aquatic invertebrate diversity 

Oct 10, 2019 - Regional Flood Control District project includes installation of new pedestrian bridges over Rillito Creek and CDO Wash 

Oct 09, 2019 - Department News Article Summary Goes Here 

Aug 09, 2019 - Flood Control, Sustainability and Conservation team with Marana on effort. 

Jun 14, 2019 - Flood Control planners want feedback to help establish near and long-term goals to improve public safety. 

Apr 19, 2019 - Flood Control, NRPR create milkweed "way stations" ahead of the butterflies' return this fall. 

Apr 05, 2019 - Alamo Wash Open House 

Apr 01, 2019 - PC-HYDRO Version 7.1 now available for use 

Mar 05, 2019 - Plans call for soil cement bank protection, Railroad and I-10 underpass and new access to the Chuck Huckelberry Loop at Thornydale Road 

Feb 14, 2019 - Pantano Wash Bank Protection and River Park Project recognized as a "Project of the Year" by the Southern Arizona Branch of the American Public Works Association recognized  

Feb 01, 2019 - Notice of Proposed Grant Easement No. E-0144 

Jan 11, 2019 - Wildlife biologists scour the Santa Cruz River channel looking for birds' nests ahead of sediment removal project. 

Jan 09, 2019 - District Lands and Facilities Regulations Approved 

Dec 14, 2018 - The project will build a soil cement barrier on the western edge of the Orange Grove sand and gravel quarry and make transitions easier between the Santa Cruz, Rillito and CDO river parks 

Dec 04, 2018 - The Regional Flood Control District proposes the final text of a new chapter of the Pima County Code outlining procedures to authorize impacts to District lands and facilities. 

Nov 27, 2018 - The Pima County Regional Flood Control District on Jan. 8 will begin removing approximately 150,000 cubic yards of sediment from the bed of the Santa Cruz River channel between Silverlake Road and Cushing Street.  

Oct 09, 2018 - Celebrations planned to highlight the success of wastewater improvements, return of native fish to the Santa Cruz River 

Oct 03, 2018 - Deal allows UA student interns and faculty to participate in real-world engineering projects, floodplain research and other projects. 

Oct 03, 2018 - The plan will improve the County’s standing under the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System. 

Aug 16, 2018 - The public service announcements seek to inform property owners and renters about the benefits of flood insurance and to remind drivers about the risks of flash flooding. 

Aug 09, 2018 - July 10 downpour did little damage, thanks to careful planning. 

Jun 29, 2018 - Project in Paseo de las Iglesias will connect east bank section, owl habitat to shared-use path. ADOT underpass still to come. 

Jun 15, 2018 - The Pima County Regional Flood Control District has drafted a new chapter of the Pima County Code, Flood Control District Lands and Facilities Regulations. The chapter outlines procedures to authorize impacts to District lands and facilities, including restoration lands, drainageways, basins and bank protection.  

Apr 20, 2018 - Project will remove about 90,000 cubic yards of sediment. 

Apr 13, 2018 - Project seeks to prepare confluence of Alamo Wash and Rillito Creek ahead of the Monsoon. 

Mar 29, 2018 - Proposed Facility Impact Permit 

Mar 13, 2018 - The loop portion of 131-mile The Loop multi-use path has been completed. A celebration will be held at two locations along The Loop on March 17, 2018. 

Feb 09, 2018 - Draft FLO-2D Parameterization Technical Guidance 

Dec 20, 2017 - Alamo Wash Floodplain Study Update 

Dec 20, 2017 - Flood Control Starts RiskMAP Study for Upper Santa Cruz River 

Dec 14, 2017 - For the first time in 70 years, native Gila topminnow have been detected in the river's Tucson stretch of river read more 

Nov 22, 2017 - Department Homepage News Article Summary Goes Here 

Oct 08, 2017 - Pima County Regional Flood Control District is hosting a Management Study Update Open House regarding the Existing Conditions Report on October 23, 2107, 5:30-7 p.m., Dodge Middle School, 5831 E. Pima Street. 

Oct 03, 2017 - The Pima County Board of Supervisors has approved a new vision for one of Metro Tucson’s more flood-prone areas and began the process to remove over $40 million worth of property from federal insurance requirements. 

Sep 29, 2017 - The Pima County Regional Flood Control District and the Sonoran Institute will host a series of workshops seeking public input on management priorities for the Lower Santa Cruz River as it flows through Metro Tucson. 

Sep 21, 2017 - Flowing Wells Wash Letter of Map Revision Under Review by FEMA 

Sep 11, 2017 - New report finds improved water quality in the river now supports more diverse aquatic wildlife, sustains an increase in aquifer recharge and enhances a valuable community amenity. 

Aug 02, 2017 - The Pima County Regional Flood Control District seeks public input on a management plan for the stretch of the Santa Cruz River between Grant Road and Trico Road.  

May 26, 2017 - Pima County Flood Control District will release eight burrowing owls in Paseo de las Iglesias River Park May 27. 

May 10, 2017 - The path located on the east bank between Grant and El Camino del Cerro will close. 

Mar 06, 2017 - The Pima County Regional Flood Control District, in conjunction with the City of Tucson submitted revised floodplain and floodway mapping to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  Those revisions have been approved under and will become effective on June 2, 2017.  

Mar 03, 2017 - Old car bodies, tires and household trash among items found in Pantano. 

Feb 22, 2017 - The Pima County Regional Flood Control District, in conjunction with the City of Tucson and community partners, is conducting a study of the Alamo Wash Watershed in order to assess flooding problems. The study will include evaluation of the Alamo Wash, Arcadia Wash, Van Buren Wash and Sahuara Wash. An Open House for the study is scheduled for Wednesday, March 22, 2017 at 6:00 pm at the Sky Islands School, 6000 E. 14th St. 

Feb 16, 2017 - Bank protection project seeks to prevent flood risk in Santa Cruz River 

Feb 15, 2017 - County Flood Control is performing repairs to the soil cement embankment along the east side of the Santa Cruz River in Marana. 

Jan 27, 2017 - The Flood Control District recently completed a project that required the removal of a population of Burrowing Owls for their protection. Prior to the start of construction multiple Burrowing Owls were identified on site and with the help of Wild at Heart, they were relocated to keep them safe during construction. Now, in coordination with Wild at Heart, Tucson Electric Power and Tucson Audubon Society, the District is happy to announce that 16 new burrows will be created for the owls so they can be released back onsite. 

Nov 16, 2016 - Initial findings from a Nov. 9 survey of conditions along the Lower Santa Cruz River indicate the number and types of fish have increased and expanded along the waterway’s course. 

Nov 02, 2016 - Pima County conducting a “Fish Survey” along the Lower Santa Cruz River.  

Oct 28, 2016 - An article recounting the flood of October 1983. 

Oct 26, 2016 - Hydrologic Soils Groups Maps Updated by the Natural Resources Conservation Service 

Oct 26, 2016 - FLO-2D Pro Approved for Use in National Flood Insurance Program Applications in Pima County 

Oct 05, 2016 - Airport Wash Letter of Map Revision under Review by FEMA 

Sep 09, 2016 - Flood Control project adds two more miles of paved paths along The Loop. 

Aug 12, 2016 - Flood Control District wins two APWA Project of the Year awards 

Jul 12, 2016 - Pima County, Sonoran Institute Publish Third "Living River" Report tracking changes to the Lower Santa Cruz RIver. 

Jul 01, 2016 - The Pima County Regional Flood Control District has upgraded its ALERT system software and has launched a new publically accessible web page for displaying real- or near real-time hydro-meteorological data for Southeastern Arizona. Precipitation, stream flow and other weather related information produced by District ALERT stations, as well as data generated by other agencies monitoring equipment is now just a few clicks away. 

Jun 17, 2016 - Pima County Flood Control District is restoring the capacity of the Rillito River by removing and relocating built-up sediment from the channel. Restoration efforts will follow the completion of the project. 

Jun 10, 2016 - A Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) has been approved by FEMA to re-map the floodplains for Tucson Arroyo, Arroyo Chico and the High School Wash, from Fremont Avenue west to the Santa Cruz River. This map revision will become effective June 13, 2016. 

May 31, 2016 - Flood Control Removing Rillito Sediment 

May 24, 2016 - In an effort to provide more comprehensive flood hazard information to Realtors and the public, the District has expanded the information covered on the form from only providing FEMA floodplain information. The form now includes local floodplains, erosion hazards, platted floodplains and erosion hazards, and regulated riparian habitat. 

May 17, 2016 - New FEMA Elevation Certificate form 

Apr 25, 2016 - The District is pleased to announce that we are in the final notification stage for the FEMA Letter of Map Revision for the Santa Cruz River resulting from the Paseo de las Iglesias Project. 

Apr 15, 2016 - The District would like to make surveyors and engineers aware of the upcoming elevation certificate workshop presented by ADWR and the District. This workshop will be held May 17, 2016 at 8:30AM in the Main Library Basement Meeting Room. Please go to the registration page to register for this free event.  

Jul 07, 2015 - PC-HYDRO 6 is a new web interface that executes the Pima County Hydrology Procedure equations and is now available. Rather than a stand-alone program installed on your local machine PC-HYDRO 6.0 is run through the internet. 

Jul 06, 2015 - Pima County is making final preparations to transition to a new permitting software system called Accela Automation. It is expected to improve the permitting process for the public and County staff. 

Jun 08, 2015 - New “Living River” report affirms changes in our local river. 

May 01, 2015 - The Regional Flood Control District is pleased to announce the dedication ceremony for the latest section of The Loop shared-use path is Saturday, May 2, 2015 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The section of The Loop was constructed as part of the Paseo de las Iglesias project.  

Apr 17, 2015 - Project will significantly reduce flooding 

Apr 06, 2015 - Ribbon cutting April 16 for High School Wash Storm Drain 

Dec 04, 2014 - Pima County is among the top communities in the national insurance program. 

Nov 21, 2014 - The plan will identify flood problems and solutions south of the Rillito and east of I-10. 

Oct 07, 2014 - Report sets baseline before major upgrades to Pima County wastewater infrastructure. 

Sep 26, 2014 - Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) Case # 13-09-3317P that re-mapped the Arroyo Chico the floodplains based on the Park Avenue and Cherry Field Flood Control Basins has been approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is now effective.  

Sep 19, 2014 - Closure of District Satellite Office in Public Works Building 

Sep 17, 2014 - District Prepares for Tropical Storm Odile 

Aug 28, 2014 - Three new policies and procedures have been approved and are effective 8/27/2014. 

Aug 19, 2014 - The District announces the approval of Technical Policy 007... 

Aug 19, 2014 - Work includes rain-eroded areas and is expected to conclude Aug. 26. 

Aug 06, 2014 - Significant disruptions or closures will be posted on The Loop website and Facebook page. 

Jul 01, 2014 - The Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (commonly referred to as the Biggert-Waters Act) was passed in Congress in July of 2012.  

Oct 10, 2013 - The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has recently approved the use FLO-2D Version 2009.6 for hydrology in Pima County for “watersheds with flows characterized as dispersed surface runoff instead of concentrated channel flow.”