PDM - Town Of Eagar, Eagar Robertson Hollow Regional Flood Control Project Public Notice

FINAL PUBLIC NOTICE: Town Of Eagar, Eagar Robertson Hollow Regional Flood Control Project, Apache County, AZ │ PDMC-PJ-09-AZ-2019-010

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) proposes to provide federal financial assistance under the Pre-Disaster Grant Program to the Town of Eagar in Apache County, AZ, to provide flood control features along Robertson Hollow wash and reduce flooding in the town. 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 reoccurring flood damage from runoff from the Robertson Hollow watershed. The proposed action consists of five flood control features:

• Improved water crossing under 12th Street west of Line Street.
• Channel improvements starting at the outlet of 12th Street that would run approximately 2,000 feet to the north and would consist of regrading and erosion protection.
• Construction of an approximately 8-acre detention basin at the northern end of the improved channel.
• Construction of an underground storm sewer running east to west that would connect at the northwest corner of the detention basin and would be within an easement south of West School Bus Road and a proposed extension of the road between South Main Street and South Butler Street.
• Construction of the outflow terminus of the storm sewer into Water Canyon Creek east of the intersection of West School Bus Road and Crosby Street.

The project area is in the 100-year floodplain as depicted on the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) Numbers 04001C4681E and 04001C4683E, effective date September 28, 2007. The FIRM shows that most of the project area lies within Zone AE, an area that has a 1-percent probability of flooding every year and where predicted floodwater elevations have been established. The outflow terminus would also be within a regulatory floodway, which is a watercourse and the adjacent land areas that must be reserved to discharge the base flood without cumulatively increasing the water surface elevation more than a designated height. A map of the project area and its location within the floodplain is available for public inspection. Parties interested in receiving a copy of the map should contact the FEMA Region IX Environmental Officer using contact information provided in this notice.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory map shows freshwater emergent wetlands associated with Water Canyon Creek as potentially occurring within and adjacent to the project area.

Three alternatives to the proposed action were considered: Alternative 1: Restoration of Upstream Detention Basins; Alternative 2: Big Ditch Flood Control Structure Improvements; and Alternative 3, No Action. Alternative 1 would restore historic upstream detention basins on United States Forest Service land that have filled with sediment and no longer provide retention capabilities. This Alternative was not pursued because the Forest Service's current policy limits the construction of such features on federal land. Alternative 2 would include restoring the Big Ditch to serve in its historical capacity as a runoff diversion structure. This Alternative is not recommended because the original design was constructed by pioneer settlers and was not designed or sized for capturing stormwater runoff and was likely intended for irrigation purposes. Under Alternative 3, no project would be undertaken. Therefore, Alternative 3 is not recommended because flooding would continue along the wash. FEMA has determined that the proposed project is the only practicable alternative available; therefore, the proposed action must be located 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 Town of Eagar has declared that the proposed action conforms to local floodplain standards, and is 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 IX Environmental Officer at FEMA, 1111 Broadway, Suite 1200, Oakland, California 94607, or fema-rix-ehp-documents@fema.dhs.gov, or calling (510) 627-7027. All requests should be received no later than 15 days after publication of this notice. No action will be taken before this date.