Flood Control work session: gabion/check‑dam planning, Coyote Wash bid, Bay Acres and other project updates

At the Sept. 30 Flood Control District work session, Cochise County staff reviewed a series of implementation and near‑term construction updates, including gabion/check‑dam planning, a procurement update on Coyote Wash, Bay Acres design progress, and multiple watershed studies.

Watkins, a Flood Control District staff member, said county staff have been coordinating with the four county Natural Resource Conservation Districts (NRCDs) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on gabion and rock check‑dam work intended to slow erosion, promote infiltration and protect bridges. The county has a tentative meeting with all four NRCDs on Oct. 20 to identify specific gabion locations and coordinate partnerships. For Turkey Creek, staff said the San Simon NRCD secured a WIFRA grant of $562,000 with a Flood Control District match of $250,000 to fund a grade control structure intended to protect a bridge on Turkey Creek.

Watkins described gabion materials and construction: gabion baskets allow use of smaller on‑site rock where velocities permit, but larger boulders must be trucked in for high‑velocity locations. "With the gabions, you can use smaller rock because the gabions as long as the rock can't get through the wire," Watkins said.

Staff reported the county opened bids for the Coyote Wash project the previous week and said the apparent low bidder came in at just over $5.5 million, about $3.3 million lower than the county's internal estimate. The county said the apparent low bidder will be presented to the board next week and, if approved, construction would begin in November with roller‑compacted concrete work for the outlet structure and an inlet diversion channel expected in December.

On Bay Acres, Watkins said design work is underway and that 30–60% plans will be completed by the end of the calendar year. The presentation referenced a planning‑level cost estimate in the range of $17 million and noted county staff are pursuing acquisition of back‑tax parcels that lie in the floodplain to secure right of way before detailed design advances.

Watkins said Leslie Canyon Pond (Rucker Dam area) is also in design with plans expected by year‑end; staff noted coordination with ADWR remains a regulatory step on that project. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is conducting a watershed study for Brokaw/Broker Creek with roughly $300,000 allocated for study work to address flooding in the Elfrida area, and the county is performing a separate Pomerene Road watershed study intended to reduce roadway flooding where staff are evaluating local permitting and utility conflicts.

Staff also updated the board on the Border Recharge (Palominas) property the county purchased for future recharge investigation. Watkins said the project would investigate recharge potential from stormwater and, separately, water‑quality and feasibility issues if treated effluent were considered for recharge. Some supervisors and members of the public expressed concern about effluent going directly into the ground. Watkins described typical municipal practice and said reuse would not be direct raw discharge: "They have wetlands that they treat their effluent... and then that flows into their recharge basins," Watkins said, adding that the county would investigate water quality and treatment steps before any recharge.

Board members and staff discussed legal and jurisdictional constraints for projects that cross property or political boundaries, including the county's regulatory cutoff for requiring Flood Control involvement at 500 cfs; Watkins said the county regulates features and development where flows exceed that threshold. Staff said other projects could require right‑of‑way acquisition from private owners when the wash and needed improvements lie on private property.

Staff emphasized that many of these projects rely on outside funding and partnerships — examples cited included WIFRA, WIPA and state and federal grants — and that schedules depend on grant awards and right‑of‑way agreements. No formal board votes were recorded during the work session; staff said several items will return to the board for approvals when procurement, grants or easement actions are ready for decision.