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Pima County approves flood‑prone property purchases after Bighorn fire erosion raised risks
Summary
The Board approved three flood‑prone property acquisition items after staff explained the post‑fire erosion and destructive runoff that increased flood risk on properties in the north county. FEMA grants and flood‑control funding will fund most purchases; the board discussed revegetation, demolition plans and the program27s grant leverage.
The Pima County Board of Supervisors approved several flood‑prone land acquisitions and related budget items that county staff said are necessary because the Bighorn Fire denuded mountainsides and altered runoff patterns, increasing flood risk to homes in the north county.
What the board approved: during consent bundle discussion board members handled several items related to the regional flood control district. After questions from Supervisor Christie, county staff explained the acquisitions are for repetitive loss homes; the plan is to acquire and demolish the structures to remove them from the hazard area. Staff said 75% of the purchase cost for the specific request being discussed is funded via FEMA grants and flood‑prone land acquisition funds programmed in the regional flood control district.
Why it matters: staff said the houses predate modern flood‑control setback standards and that the burned watershed caused increased erosion and more rapid runoff (not an increase in rainfall intensity) that made the properties newly vulnerable. Removing houses from the floodplain protects lives and reduces long‑term public costs of repeated recovery.
Board discussion: Supervisors pressed staff on the number of homes already acquired, whether revegetation of burned public lands could mitigate risk and whether the county planned further acquisitions nearby. Staff said revegetation will occur over time on public lands but the county’s flood control district is not accelerating revegetation; the district is at the tail end of making acquisitions in the area and will verify remaining properties and report in writing to the board. Staff also said the program used federal funds where available and that the district has budgeted annual monies for flood‑prone land acquisition.
Ending: The board approved the items (with recorded votes noted in the agenda/meeting record). Staff promised written updates about remaining acquisitions and the district’s funding mix.
