Cochise County Flood Control Board approves Wilcox watershed study contract and budget transfers

The Cochise County Flood Control District Board of Supervisors on April 22 approved demands and operating budget transfers that include a $32,451.63 contract with JE Fuller to complete a Wilcox watershed master-plan study.

The item, approved by a 3-0 vote, covers analysis for the Wilcox watershed in the Sulphur Springs Valley and a draft master plan that district staff told supervisors will identify flows of 500 cubic feet per second (CFS) or greater and potential locations for recharge sites. "The item there for JE Fuller for $32,451.63, that's for the Wilcox watershed study that we're doing in the Wilcox in the Sulphur Springs Valley," Cochise County staff member Miss Watkins said. "We are doing a master plan watershed study for the whole basin that will have all the flow rates of 500 CFS or greater, and then along with that we will have locations of potential recharge sites, and then we have the draft done on that, and that will be presented to the board probably in July."

Watkins also told the board that 500 CFS is the district's regulatory flood-flow threshold. "500 CFS is what our regulatory floodplain is, our regulatory flood flow," she said. "So if there's any wash or flow discharge greater than 500 CFS, then it is regulatory flow rate by the flood control district."

During discussion, Supervisor Crosby made extended remarks criticizing prior federal studies of the San Pedro River watershed and said he would not support future projects he considers unsound. "It appears as though during the COVID years and later, this watershed was subjected to well over $10,000,000 of federal tax funded studies," Crosby said, later adding, "The citizens can count on me to be who I said I was, and I won't support subsequent efforts to advance renewable, sustainable boondoggles." He also said staff member Miss Lowenheim will send further documents and that the board should schedule a work session to review the material.

The board approved two consent items. The first consent item, approval of minutes from the Flood Control District meeting on April 8, 2025, was accepted without further discussion. The second, the demands and budget amendments that included the JE Fuller contract, was moved by Supervisor Crosby, seconded from the dais, and passed 3-0.

Votes at a glance: The board voted to approve the April 8, 2025 minutes (consent item 1) and to approve demands and operating budget transfers including the JE Fuller contract (consent item 2); both items passed with unanimous votes from the three supervisors present.

The board noted the JE Fuller draft will be presented to the Flood Control District in July and directed staff to coordinate further briefings. No additional funding sources for the JE Fuller contract were specified in the meeting record.