Cochise County Flood Control staff outline projects, studies and grant funding; no formal votes taken

Cochise County Engineering and Natural Resources staff briefed the Board of Supervisors on June 10 on a slate of flood-control and groundwater-recharge projects, several in design or study phases and several relying on state or federal grants. Staff described plans and funding sources for Coyote Wash, a Bisbee-area recharge project, watershed studies for Wilcox and Douglas basins, and localized projects in Bay Acres, Leslie Canyon and Pomerene Road. No formal board votes were recorded during the work session.

The board-held work session focused on countywide flood-control goals and how projects intersect with road flooding, watershed health and groundwater recharge. "The priority for the board is flood control projects that help minimize the flooding," said Skye Watkins, Engineering and Natural Resources staff, explaining the district’s mix of operating programs and capital projects. She added the district funds National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) permit work, a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) program administered under ADEQ rules, maintenance of dedicated drainage channels, and a network of 21 alert gauges used in real-time reporting with the National Weather Service.

Watkins outlined several active or planned projects. Coyote Wash, a multi-phase project upstream of Sierra Vista, is in final design and scheduled for construction advertising at the end of the month. Staff said the project has a mix of grant funding — a REPI grant from the Army and a…