Hi, J.C.
Several engineering firms outline work they have carried out for
Maricopa County on their websites.
Wood/Patels's work in the area is outlined at:
http://www.woodpatel.com/Departments/hydrology.htm
These include major studies, and
"New River Channelization, Flood Control District of Maricopa County -
Wood/Patel performed hydraulic / sediment transport analyses for a 2½
mile reach of New River between Grand Avenue and Greenway Road. To
check bank stability, tractive stress analysis was performed.
Additionally, SCS's allowable velocity approach was used. Bank
protection was designed for a ½-mile portion upstream of the proposed
drop structure. A stepped drop structure was designed to handle a
100-year storm, while its stability was checked for the standard
project flood. "
Jonathon Fuller's work is outlined at:
http://www.jefuller.com/jonfuller.html
He has conducted a number of hydrology studies in the area. Among
other projects:
"For the Alluvial Fan Data Collection and Monitoring Study for the
Flood Control District of Maricopa County, Arizona, Mr. Fuller served
as assistant project manager, project hydrologist, and project
geomorphologist. This study included systematic geomorphic, geologic,
and hydrologic analyses of fluvial systems and soil surfaces on
alluvial fans in the greater Phoenix, Arizona region. An automatic
gauging system was designed using state-of-the-art telemetric, manual,
and remote sensing equipment capable of quantifying streamflow,
sediment transport, scour, channel movement, and channel transmission
losses on the four alluvial fan sites. The gauging system was designed
to interface with the District's existing ALERT/SCADA system. As a
result of study findings, an identification matrix was developed to
classify and identify the types of fans found in central Arizona. To
date, the gauging and data collection system designed for the study
has been installed on three of four alluvial fan sites...."
Engineering and Environmental Consultants Inc. describe their
involvement at:
http://www.eec-info.com/eecdrainage.htm
Their projects included:
"Queen Creek-Maricopa County, Arizona Designed 3 ½ miles of channel
from Recker road to Hawes Road for multiple developers integrating a
variety of recreational features within the channel including golf, a
linear park, and a natural riparian area. Responsible for processing
CLOMR/LOMR to alter FEMA floodplain and multiple Individual Section
404 permits. Because of the sensitive vegetation (mature cottonwood
trees) the 404 permit was a design constraint along a reach of the
channel. "
The Flood Control District of Maricopa County has its own web site at:
http://www.fcd.maricopa.gov/Flooding/
which has a map of the various flood control structures and a history
of floods since 1891.
Click on "Flooding and Growth" for an explanation of the problems
caused by a rising population and some of the regulatory measures
designed to help.
"A combination of physical characteristics and a large, continuing
growth in population has made Maricopa County residents susceptible to
flooding and/or erosion and sediment damages."
On-line engineering, GIS, and research resources are available in this
technical resources section:
From here you have access to maps (you will need to download a free
viewer to see them - available from the site). There are publications
for sale, and a catalogue of materials that can be seen at their
office library.A contact number there is 602/506-1501 .
A detailed set of minutes of the Flood Control Advisory Board's
meeting of April 26 2000, gives a good picture of what work was being
undertaken at that time. It's at:
http://www.fcd.maricopa.gov/District/FCAB/2000/04-00%20Minutes.pdf
Planning goals are on page 4 and there is a discussion on the East
Maricopa Floodway on page 5. (It is a .pdf file, from which I cannot
cut and paste.)
The Paradise Valley Town Council Work Study minutes for 13 April 2000
gives a good picture of planning and funding co-operation between the
town and Maricopa County Flood Control at:
http://www.ci.paradise-valley.az.us/docs/TC0413wsmin.htm
There is extended discussion of the Doubletree Ranch Road drainage.
"Mr. Martinsen stated that if this area were brought to the Town as
new development, the developer would be required to implement
extensive drainage facilities. No one person, company or organization
has been held accountable for the drainage problems created by
development. .
Dr. Zhao reviewed the background hydrology, covering storm patterns,
the watershed drainage system, the historical storms in the watershed,
and some flooding pictures. He reviewed the design hydrology for the
project, which began in 1995 with a design by Hook Engineering, Inc.
and Kaminski-Hubbard Engineering, Inc., which considered land use and
soil types. He also reviewed the hydraulic modeling of storm water
flows.
.....Mr. Sylvain discussed the capability of the Doubletree Ranch Road
ditches to handle a ten-year event. The current ditches carry less
than a two-year event.
Mr. Vogel gave an overview of the project design and the updated cost
estimate. They have been looking at the utility conflicts, the
rights-of-way required, and the construction phasing. The estimated
cost of the drainage improvements is $11,400,000, with 70% paid by the
Maricopa County Flood Control and 30% by the Town. The upgrades for
the street for traffic calming, median treatments, etc. are to be paid
100% by the Town. "
An excellent discussion paper by Eve Gruntfest presented July 1996 is
at:
http://www.uccs.edu/~geogenvs/flood/
discusses advances over the previous twenty years in hydrology in
general and in the development and implementation of warning systems
in particular. About Maricopa she says:
"....in Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix, Arizona, residents
and flood control engineers have access to real time stream and
raingage data 24 hours a day (http://maricopa.gov/flood/fcd.html).
Individuals along many rivers in California can access websites which
monitor stream gages to determine whether or not to evacuate
(http://wwwdrw.water.ca.gov"). Real-time radar access is also readily
available. These sites were well visited during l995, 1996 and l997
floods and increased use can be expected as more people join the Web.
"
I hope this gives you a good start to your report.
Search terms:
"hydrology Maricopa flood basin" |
