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Flood‑control update: government tank projects progress, reimbursements still lag; Protect grant status unsettled
Summary
County flood-control staff reported construction progress on detention basins and storm drains, delays in federal reimbursements and uncertainty about a major PROTECT grant; supervisors urged continued outreach to congressional offices.
Flood‑control staff told the board that multiple construction projects in the Government Tank corridor are progressing and that the county is working to prepare basins before the monsoon season, but reimbursements from federal and federal partner agencies remain delayed.
The county’s flood‑control director reported five projects under construction in the corridor and said crews expect to connect components by June 9. Contractors are completing excavations at a detention basin and installing storm‑drain inlets and outlets, while a bored utility crossing under Highway 89 is advancing slowly; the county hired an outside inspection firm for that work and will use geotechnical testing contracted under NRCS technical‑assistance funding.
Staff also told the board they have received two overdue reimbursements from the U.S. Forest Service — roughly $3.4 million tied to flood mitigation work and a smaller $8,000 congressional directed‑spending reimbursement — but two reimbursements from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) remain outstanding for about $2 million. The director said NRCS staff turnover is one reason for slow processing and that the county will continue follow‑up.
ProteCT grant status uncertain: County staff said a federal review exercise is underway for projects funded through the Department of Transportation’s PROTECT program and that the county’s submission may be under additional review. Staff asked supervisors to consider further outreach to the county’s congressional delegation if the PROTECT grant does not move forward; several supervisors volunteered to help reach out to congressional offices.
Other notes: Staff reported a $806,000 technical assistance allocation from NRCS to cover additional design work in the pipeline corridors, and they explained contract authority to engage inspection and geotechnical services needed for the Highway 89 bore; the costs will be covered by district funds or NRCS TA, as appropriate. Supervisors questioned the timeline and asked staff to calculate the fiscal cost of carrying unreimbursed project funds.
The board did not take a formal vote on the update; flood‑control items later appeared on the consent agenda for individual approvals.
