# Presentation: 197262

## Flood Control DistrictofMaricopa County, AZ 

- Steve Waters
**Flood Warning Manager**

**Notes:**
Intro Slide

## 
 Quick Overview of Maricopa County
 Our Inter-governmental Agreement
 Meteorological Services Program
 A Success Story
 What We Could Do Better Together

-  Quick Overview of Maricopa County
-  Our Inter-governmental Agreement
-  Meteorological Services Program
-  A Success Story
-  What We Could Do Better Together

- For Today:

**Notes:**
Presentation Overview

## Maricopa County

- Total Area	9,226 Square Miles
- Population	3,000,000 (estimated 1999)
- Growth Rate	4% (estimated 12 month period)
- 25 separate Municipalities within Maricopa County (not including unincorporated areas).

## “It Never Rains inMaricopa County” 

- RUMOR:

**Notes:**
A little (very little) comedy

## Slide 5

## Average Annual Precipitation Oregon Climate Service Oregon State University 

- Average Annual Precipitation **Oregon Climate Service Oregon State University **

- Period:  1961 - 1990

- This map is a plot of 1961-1990 annual average precipitation contours from NOAA Cooperative stations and (where appropriate) USDA-NRCS SNOTEL stations.  Christopher Daly used the PRISM model to generate the gridded estimates from which this map was derived; the model grid was approximately 4x4 km latitude/longitude, and was resampled to 2x2 km using a Gaussian filter.  Mapping was performed by Jenny Weisberg and Nathaniel DeYoung, Funding was provided by USDA-NRCS National Water and Climate Center.  4/20/98

- Inches

- Under 8

- Above 36

- 8 to 12

- 12 to 16

- 16 to 20

- 28 to 32

- 24 to 28

- 32 to 36

- 20 to 24

**Notes:**

Average rainfall coincides with 
	elevation – great variation in 
	rainfall in the County

Map shows diversity within Maricopa
	County – high plateau, mountains, low desert

Maricopa County gets runoff from snow melt

## ALERTOverview

- 1981

**Notes:**
Our first ALERT computer, a Data General the size of a refrigerator

## Major Watersheds Affecting Maricopa County

- Major Watersheds Affecting Maricopa County

**Gila River**

**Centennial Wash**

**Hassayampa River**

**Agua Fria River **

**Verde River**

**Gila River**

**Salt River**

**Waterman Wash**

**Notes:**
Map shows watersheds contributing
	to Maricopa County

Describe how runoff from many 
	watersheds flows through the County

All water travels to the Salt and 
	Gila Rivers and eventually to 
	the Colorado River

Point out where Wickenburg is. (Location of the Test Case)

The Points on this map are the 
	location of our Rain gages

## FCDMC ALERT

***FCDMC ALERT***
***SYSTEM***

_**STATIONS - 299**_
**Rain Gages - 288**
**Stream Gages - 133**
**Weather Stations - 28**

**Repeaters** **- 12**

**Internet**
**Server**
**(Node 3)**

**Remote PCs**

**ALERT Room**

**Phone Dial in/out**

**NovaStar v.4X, 4 Nodes**

**Notes:**
ALERT Schematic

## Local Flood Warning Areas

**Notes:**
LFWs within our ALERT system coverage

## Flood ResponsePlans

** ****Used by Local Jurisdictions**
** ****Rely heavily on ALERT Products, MSP Forecasts & NWS Forecasts**

**Notes:**
Flood Response Plans have been created by the
	District for various areas around the County.

The plans are used by staff of the local jurisdictions  
	– emergency managers, dispatchers, etc., along
	with data and forecast information. 

Analysis of NWS, private and ALERT data,  triggers
	different responses outlined in the Plan.

## An Operational Page from theWickenburg Flood Response Plan

**Notes:**
This is an example of the Wickenburg Flood 
	Response Plan for Sols Wash.

This plan outlines the following four points:
What triggers the alert, 
Actions required by the dispatcher and others, 
Potential trouble areas, 
Critical arrival times of floodwaters

## IGA with PHX WFOSignedin1990 

## Responsibilities of the NWS...

-  Advise on equipment selection
-  Assist in selection of ALERT station sites
-  Coordinate radio frequency usage
-  Provide supporting Hydro-Met information
-  Provide advisories to determine expected runoff conditions
-  Review calibration of CBRFC forecast models
-  Incorporate local flood alerts into related NWS Issuances, and assist in local notification

## Responsibilities of the FCDMC...

-  Provide, install and maintain ALERT equipment
-  Assure utilization of radio frequencies as authorized
-  Develop a jurisdictional Flood Response Manual
-  Provide warnings based on local conditions, NWS         guidance and the Flood Response Manual
-  Relay local warnings to the Phoenix WFO

## Why a Meteorological Services Program?

**Notes:**
One hour rainfall estimate NW of
	Wickenburg from Phoenix radar site

Centennial Wash watershed above Wickenburg
	received 2.5 inches of rain in one hour

## Meteorological Services Program Zones

**Notes:**
One hour rainfall estimate NW of
	Wickenburg from Phoenix radar site

Centennial Wash watershed above Wickenburg
	received 2.5 inches of rain in one hour

## In-HouseDailyOutlook

**Notes:**

Program was adopted because the District 
	wasn’t getting the site specific forecasting 
	from the Phoenix NWS that was needed

## A Message 1 contains warnings and /or updates conditions

## A Message 2 is equivalent to a Flash Flood Watch

## A Message 3 is equivalent to a Flash Flood Warning

## A Message 4 allows agencies to stand down

## MSP Messages Are Provided To...

**Internal Observation & Operations Teams**
**Maricopa County Departments, including Transportation, Emergency Management and Sheriff**
**City Emergency Management and Public Works Departments**
**Recreation areas such as Parks and Lakes**
**Public Warnings Remain the Domain of the National Weather Service**

## CentennialWashWatershed

- Yavapai Co.

- La Paz Co.

- Maricopa Co.

- ASuccessStory

## STORM-TOTAL NEXRAD Precipitation Estimate

## Slide 26

## Centennial Wash in Wenden, AZ

## SpecialServiceAward

- SpecialServiceAward

## What We Could Do Better Together... 

-  Share real-time and historic spotter information
-  Collaborate on projects such as the FFMP & NAME
-  Work with our RFC on more than major rivers
-  Develop better Z/R relationships for the arid west
-  Share results of storm and flood investigations

**Notes:**
Reasons

## Questions ? 

**www.fcd.maricopa.gov/Services/ALERT**

**Notes:**
Final Slide