• Increase font size
  • Decrease font size
  • Print
  • RSS
  • Floodplain Management Plan

    On October 2, 2018, the Board of Supervisors (Board), sitting as the Board of Directors for the Flood Control District (District), adopted Resolution No. 2018-FC6, which authorized the District to develop a Floodplain Management Plan for unincorporated Pima County. The Resolution further authorized the District to engage the public in the process, including the formation of a Planning Committee that would help develop the Floodplain Management Plan. The goal of this Resolution was to create a Floodplain Management Plan that meets or exceeds the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) standards and that can be considered as a sufficient prerequisite for Pima County to obtain a Class 4 designation under the NFIPs Community Rating System. 

    Currently, Pima County is a Class-3 community, meaning that residents and property owners can enjoy up to a 35% reduction of their flood insurance policy premiums. The current combination of the District’s efforts for higher regulatory standards, outreach activities, floodprone land acquisition for open space, and drainage infrastructure construction and maintenance results in a score that would produce a better rating and increase the flood insurance discount available, but the County cannot improve beyond a Class 5 without a Floodplain Management Plan. The planning process conducted over the previous year has culminated in the plan below recommended by the stakeholder and staff committee for Board consideration, and approved at the April 7, 2020 public hearing.

    Floodplain Management Plan Dashboard

    A Floodplain Management Plan Dashboard is now live and is updated regularly. View it for the latest information available.

    Progress Reports

    Action Plan Progress Report, April 2022
    Action Plan implementation progress report
    Action Plan Maps for each watershed (current as of June 15, 2021)

    Approved 2020 Floodplain Management Plan

    Final Document
    Approved Action Plan
    Board of Supervisors Approval Resolution

    Timeline

    The timeline is in reverse-chronological order.

    June 22, 2021
    The Committee will meet to review the action plan including specific activities in each watershed. 

    Meeting agenda
    Meeting minutes
    Action Plan implementation progress report current as of June 10, 2021

    April 7, 2020
    The Board of Supervisors approved the 2020 Floodplain Management Plan Document and Resolution.

    March 3, 2020
    A public meeting was held at the Joel D. Valdez Library, Basement Conference Room, from 10AM-2PM.

    February 26, 2020
    Dr. Greg Saxe presented to the Planning and Zoning Commission an overview of the Floodplain Management Plan process and highlighted the action plan as approved by the Committee.

    February 12, 2020
    The Committee met to review the action plan including specific activities in each watershed. 

    Meeting Agenda
    Action Plan current as of February 11, 2020

    December 16, 2019
    The Committee finalized the goals and began reviewing activities to address those goals.

    Meeting Agenda
    Meeting Minutes

    November 25, 2019
    The Committee finalized the aggregated problem list from the watershed assessments and drafted a set of goals to address each problem.

    Meeting Agenda
    Meeting Minutes

    November 4, 2019
    Since the third Committee meeting held July 22, 2019, District staff has completed a complete DRAFT of the plan. The only items excluded are the complete problem list, selected goals and activities, and implementation plan. The complete problem list will be provided prior to the meeting. The DRAFT is available on the project webpage. It includes process write up, review of existing plans, hazard and problem assessments, activity review and exemplary problem list, goals and selected activities. This represents the most challenging phase of committee participation, identifying goals to address each listed problem and reviewing which of the 6 authorized activities are appropriate. Accordingly meeting frequency for the next two months will increase.

    Meeting Agenda
    Meeting Minutes

    July 22, 2019
    The next planning committee meeting is Monday, July 22 at 1:30 p.m., in the 9th floor of the Public Works Building. A set of problem assessment fact sheets have been developed. These sheets are intended to stimulate discussion and help the Committee guide development of the more detailed draft assessment of each watershed for consideration in the next steps; setting goals and reviewing activities.

    Meeting Agenda
    Meeting Minutes

    May/June, 2019

    FMP Committee members have been meeting regularly with District staff to evaluate individual watersheds and provide feedback. Staff are preparing data for review.

    April 15, 2019
    Second Planning Committee meeting at Pima County Regional Flood Control Office, Conference Rooms A/B, starting at 1:30 P.M. Click HERE for the PowerPoint presentation. Watershed specific maps have been uploaded to the respective webpages (see below tab). Stakeholders are being asked to provide any information they may have on additional flood hazards.

    Meeting Agenda
    Meeting Minutes

    December 6, 2018
    First Planning Committee meeting at Pima County Regional Flood Control Office, Conference Rooms A/B, starting at 1:00 P.M. Click HERE for the PowerPoint presentation.

    Meeting Agenda
    Meeting Minutes

    October, 2018
    On October 2, 2018 The Board of Supervisor's directed the District to conduct a public process to develop a Floodplain Management Plan for their approval. The District has sent invitations to prospective committee members, and a potential meeting will be held early winter before 2019. Look for current messages in this space for future updates.

    Project Schedule

    • October 2018 – Board directs District to start the Floodplain Management Plan process.
    • October 2018 – Establish Planning Committee according to guidelines.
    • Fall 2018 – Begin conducting informational meetings in impacted areas and continue throughout  as needed.
    • Summer 2018/19 - Assess known hazards and exposure of people and property.
    • Fall 2019 - Set goals, review possible activities, and draft an action plan.
    • Winter 2019 – Conduct meetings for the public to comment on the draft plan.
    • 2020 – Request approval by the Board.
    • April 2020 – Plan approved by Board Resolution No. 2020-FC1.

    Planning Steps

    Step 1 - Project Organization

    Resolution NO. 2018-FC 6, A Resolution of the Pima County Flood Control District Board of Directors Approving Initiation of a Floodplain Management Plan Process as part of the National Flood Insurance Program's Community Rating System All Areas Map
    Fact Sheet Floodplain Management Plan Planning Process Powerpoint Planning Committee

    Step 2 - Community Involvement Survey

    A community wide survey was conducted to gather input on individual needs. That survey has since closed but see below links for survey questions and results:

    View the survey
    View survey results

    Step 3 - Interagency Coordination

    In addition to membership on the Planning Committee, survey, website and public meetings the District seeks input from partner agencies and organizations. To date these have included the National Weather Service, Cadden Community Management, Coronado National Forest, Pima Association of Governments, Sonoran Institute, Arizona Department of Water Resources, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, San Xavier District, and Tohono O’odham Nation. Please contact Greg Saxe if you wish to discuss planning partnership opportunities.

    Step 4 & 5 - Hazard and Problem Assessment (see Watersheds tab)

    Aggregated Problem List for all Watersheds

    Step 6 - Floodplain Management Plan Goals

    Floodplain Management Plan Goals

    Step 7 - Activity Review

    Chapter 7 of the DRAFT report
    Excerpt from the 2017 CRS Manual, authorized activities list

    Step 8 - Action Plan

    Action plan spreadsheet (available upon request)

    Step 9 - Approved Plan

    Please see the project homepage for the approved Floodplain Management Plan

    Follow UsShare this page

    Regional Flood Control District

    201 N. Stone Avenue, 9th Fl.
    Tucson, AZ 85701

    Phone: (520) 724-4600
    Fax: (520) 724-4621

    Customer Service Hours:
    8:00AM - 4:00PM


    Department Home Page
    Department News
    Department Hours
    Department Directory
    Feedback
    Boards, Commissions and Committees
    Department Forms
    Permitting
    Maps
    Public Works Quick Guide
    Volunteer with Pima County
    Be Flood Safe