Santa Cruz County flood control staff outline LOMR, downtown feasibility study and ordinance review

Santa Cruz County flood control staff briefed the Board of Supervisors on April rainfall data and three active projects during the May 6 meeting.

Staff said April rainfall in the Nogales area was below average, with gauges reading between 0.24 inches and 0.2 inches at Casablanca Road, and that the county remains in an "exceptional drought." The flood control district logged 247 flood reviews, 19 floodplain use permits, one site review application and one drainage complaint in the reporting period.

Three projects were highlighted: a Portrero Creek Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) updating flood hazards from Ruby Road to Marton Road; a Nogales downtown redevelopment floodplain feasibility study to evaluate redevelopment constraints and opportunities after recent map changes; and a county floodplain ordinance review. The ordinance project will compare Santa Cruz County’s 2021 floodplain ordinance to the Arizona Department of Water Resources’ 2023 state model ordinance. Staff said the county’s 2021 ordinance contains more restrictive language — in part because of participation in the Community Rating System — and the consultant will produce a matrix of differences between the two documents.

Flood control staff also reported progress on the Patagonia Flood Control Project (phase 2 scope submitted to South32 under a memorandum of understanding) and Efraim Canyon project (county reviewing phase 1 technical memo). The Nogales downtown study team has completed an extensive survey of finished floor elevations and a building inventory; the next step is to establish feasibility and alternatives for building upgrades in downtown floodplain areas.

No votes or decisions were taken; supervisors acknowledged the updates and asked no substantive follow‑up at the meeting.