Coconino County issued the following announcement on July 30.
During a special session of the Coconino County Flood Control District, the Board authorized the acceptance of financial assistance in the amount of $606,328 from the Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
The grant will be funded by NRCS at 75% and by the Flood Control District at 25%. The funds will be expended on an emergency watershed protection project for implementation of emergency measures.
During the special session, the Flood Control District Board of Directors heard from Deputy County Manager, Lucinda Andreani, and County Engineer, Christopher Tressler, regarding how the recent flooding caused by monsoonal rain has impacted hundreds of homes and caused severe impacts to public infrastructure and private property. Staff members explained how the project on which these funds will be used will stabilize the stream channels to decrease erosion. Erosion is destroying private property, roads, and threatens homes. It is also the source of the sediment which is carried downstream and negatively impacts property and infrastructure.
Coconino County staff recommended that the FCD Board of Directors approve to accept NRCS Exigency Grant for $606,328 with a FCD match of $152,000.
The board accepted the funds with Supervisor Patrice Horstman stating, “Down the line, we will have to look at other long-term mitigation measures, but for now we are in the middle of the monsoons and this is going to make a tremendous difference.”
Two residents of Mount Elden Estates, a community labeled “ground-zero” in the Museum Flood Area, spoke. “I can’t thank you enough on behalf of me, the board, the homeowners. What you have done so far has really saved our homes, our sanity, and as I watch the flood waters rise sometimes, I look to my left and there’s a County work person on guard right there, ready to clear the roads. I just think this is a phenomenal job, and I think across the country, this is not necessarily the case. You all have set the gold standard and I so appreciate it,” said resident Sofia Nicoletti.
Original source can be found here.
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