Flooding Concerns Arizona Residents

Storm water officials in Scottsdale, Ariz., plan to propose adding four more experts to their Water Resources Department team. The new hires would analyze drainage plans for all new development in the city's flood-prone areas, especially those in the northern part of the city.

Currently, Scottsdale's storm water experts review only a small number of development drainage plans. "It [the proposal] would augment our ability to scrutinize and review new development, especially in development that's sensitive from a drainage standpoint, said Ashley Couch, city storm water management director.

Following a July thunderstorm and its subsequent flooding, City Councilman Tony Nelssen received numerous calls from affected residents. An August meeting focused on the flooding issue, and dozens of Scottsdale residents shared their experiences; a number of attendees suggested city officials promoted the problem by interfering with natural washes during new development projects.

Under council orders, city staff must create a recommendation for improving drainage oversight by year's end. Initial considerations included hiring new staff and establishing a list of approved storm water engineering firms for new development planning.

Couch said he plans to propose the city hire two new storm water engineers, each of which would review new development applications in flood-prone areas. Scottsdale's Planning and Services Department reviews drainage plans at the time being and passes them to city storm water engineers only when they are unusually complex or technical, he said.

Two new drainage inspectors would also join the city staff. These individuals would be responsible for monitoring waterways north of the Central Arizona Project Canal, checking for potential development encroachments and other code violations, according to Couch. Currently, this process is driven solely by specific complaints.

The recommendation is slated tenatively for city council consideration on Dec. 11. Cost estimates for the proposed hiring has not yet been developed, said Couch.

Nelssen, who said he has not yet seen the actual recommendation, said the decision will come down to cost-effectiveness and what works best. The key issue, he added, is that flooding has become a top city priority.

Source: East Valley Tribune