Final Public Notice

FINAL PUBLIC NOTICE: Goodwin Fire Mayer Water Line Mitigation, Yavapai County | HMGP 5183-08-08R

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) proposes to provide federal financial assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to Yavapai County Flood Control District (YCFCD) in Yavapai County, AZ, to mitigate impacts from erosion by constructing scour protection for buried water lines at three locations in the community of Mayer, Arizona (proposed action). Pursuant to Executive Order 11988 (Floodplain Management) and Executive Order 11990 (Wetlands Management) and FEMA’s implementing regulations at Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 9, FEMA hereby provides interested parties with a notice of its final decision and an explanation of the alternatives that were considered.

The purpose of the proposed action is to reduce erosion hazards. The proposed action consists of the following at all three site locations: 1) surface clearing and grubbing; 2) removing existing pavement and excavating soil; and 3) installing aggregate base material, concrete roadway pavement, concrete cutoff walls, rock and wire gabion baskets, and rock riprap. Construction from the proposed project would result in approximately 0.37 acres of permanent disturbance and approximately 0.42 acres of temporary disturbance. The proposed action will consist of placing fill within Big Bug Creek to create scour protection for waterlines buried beneath the waterway.

Each of the three project sites lie within Zone AE, a flood hazard area with a 1-percent probability of flooding every year, and each of the project sites lie within the regulatory floodway of Big Bug Creek. The project areas are depicted on the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM), Map Number 04025C2488H and 04025C2470H, both effective date March 2, 2015. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory map shows that Big Bug Creek, a riverine habitat, within the project area.

A map of the project area and its location within the floodplain and wetlands is available for public inspection. Parties interested in receiving a copy of the map should contact the FEMA Region 9 Environmental Officer using contact information provided in this notice.

Two alternatives to the proposed action were considered: Alternative 1, No Action; and Alternative 2, Re-Routing Waterline. Alternative 1 would include taking no action and leaving conditions as they currently exist. This Alternative is not recommended because the scour in the wash will continue to erode, and the water line will eventually break causing no domestic water service for the Town of Mayer. Alternative 2 consists of re-routing and/or lowering the water line to remove the hazard from stream erosion. This Alternative is not recommended due to the cost, and the need for water system interruptions during construction. FEMA has determined that the proposed project is the only practicable alternative available; therefore, the proposed action must be in the floodplain. The proposed action would have no significant adverse impact on the floodplain and would benefit the area by reducing the risk of flooding and flood damage. Therefore, measures to minimize impacts on the floodplain are not necessary. The YCFCD has declared that the proposed action conforms to local floodplain standards, and would be responsible for the management, construction, and maintenance of the proposed action. 

Additional information about FEMA’s proposed action may be requested by writing the FEMA Region 9 Environmental Officer at FEMA, 1111 Broadway, Suite 1200, Oakland, California 94607, or fema-rix-ehp-documents@fema.dhs.gov. All requests should be received no later than 15 days after publication of this notice. No action will be taken before this date.