Flood Control District
of Maricopa County
2002-2003 Annual Report

Table of Contents
Chairman’s Message

2

Flood Control Board of Directors

3

Flood Control Advisory Board

3

General Manager’s Message

4

District Programs

5

Mission and Vision

5

Fiscal Year Highlights

6

Division Highlights

7

Financial Commentary

8

Statement of Revenues and Expenditures

10

Capital Improvement Expenditures

11

Other District Highlights

12

About the District
Before the District's inception in 1959, severe
flooding occurred throughout much of the
County during winter rains and the monsoon
season. By establishing the District, the Arizona
State Legislature created an entity charged with
keeping county residents safe from flood
hazards and established an independent funding
source for essential projects. Today, through
effective engineering, dam and channel
construction, regulation, and public education,
massive flooding is less common.
The District is a municipal corporation and
political subdivision of the State of Arizona. The
Maricopa County Board of Supervisors doubles
as the District's Board of Directors and receives
counsel from the Flood Control Advisory Board
comprised of county citizens.
Under the state's enabling legislation, the
District is designated as a special taxing district
and is given the authority to levy a secondary
property tax on parcels within Maricopa County.
The District's flood control levy for Fiscal Year
2002-2003 was $0.2119 per $100 of assessed
valuation. At this levy rate, a typical property
owner with an assessed valuation of $100,000
paid an annual flood control tax of $21.19.
In fiscal year 2002-2003, the District's annual
budget, inclusive of both operating and capital
programs, was $ 70.4 million with 63 percent of
the District's revenue coming from the flood
control tax.
Revenue from other sources include the sale or
lease of rights-of-way, fees that developers and
individuals are required to pay to obtain building
permits within Maricopa County and cost-sharing
arrangements with the state, county, cities and
other agencies.

Currently, the District has 275 automatic rain gages, 118
automatic stream gages, and 19 automatic weather
stations throughout Maricopa and neighboring counties.
This gage is located in the Indian Bend Wash Park.

One definition of the word pioneer is one who
opens new areas of thought, research or
development. That is the perfect definition of
the Flood Control District of Maricopa County
and its accomplished staff.
During the time I served as chairman, I have
witnessed the District step up to the plate with
new ideas - ideas to protect residents from the
ravages of desert flooding, ideas to offer those
same residents year-round recreational
opportunities in facilities built to protect them,
ideas to enhance the environment and ideas to
create projects that will benefit generations to
come.
The future looks particularly bright as the
District forges ahead with more new ideas to
use the latest technology in mapping, to restore
riparian habitat and to get ahead of
development. I am confident that these
pioneering ideas will benefit county residents for
years to come and that the District will continue
to symbolize the word pioneer.

Don Stapley, District 2
Flood Control District of Maricopa County
2002 Board of Directors Chairman

Chairman's Message

Fulton Brock, District 1
Flood Control District of Maricopa County
2003 Board of Directors Chairman
2

The spirit of hard work and helping neighbors
has been the lifeblood of the West as it has
grown from infancy to adulthood. This is what
makes Maricopa County one of the most
desirable places to live in the country, which is
demonstrated by the large numbers of
newcomers that join our community every
month from other locales. This spirit is
embraced at the Flood Control District, which
has never wavered from its primary mission
while striving for goals above and beyond the
basics of flood control. In the past, the District
focused on building flood control structures. But
as growth and development flourish in the
county, the District keeps the pioneer spirit alive
by looking for alternative ways to keep residents
safe and save taxpayers' money. This spirit will
continue to serve the District well as the recordsetting drought continues in the Southwest. In
fact, Winter 2002 was the driest winter season
on record. Eventually the weather patterns will
shift and rain will return to the county. And
when the rains do come, county residents can
be assured that the District is prepared.

Fulton Brock
District 1

Don Stapley
District 2

Andrew Kunasek
District 3

Max Wilson
District 4

Mary Rose Wilcox
District 5

Supervisors serve as directors, oversee District operations
The Flood Control District is governed by a five-member Board of Directors, who also serve as
the Board of Supervisors for Maricopa County. The Board of Directors exercises all the powers
and duties in the acquisition and operation of District properties, contracting, and carrying out
regulatory functions as ordinarily exercised by governing bodies. Board members elect a new
chairman each year. The chairman conducts the meetings of the Board of Directors, which
generally follow the meetings of the Board of Supervisors.

Governing Boards

Flood Control Advisory Board reviews programs, policies
The Flood Control District Advisory Board
(FCAB) acts in an advisory role to the
Board of Directors on flood control,
floodplain management, drainage and
related matters. The FCAB reviews
planning, operations and maintenance of
flood control facilities, reviews program
priorities and new policies, and
recommends an annual budget to the
Board of Directors that includes a five-year
capital improvement program.
The Advisory Board consists of seven
members, five appointed by the Board of
Supervisors for five-year terms. In addition
to those five members, the Salt River
Project and City of Phoenix appoint
representatives who are ex officio
members of the board. The FCAB members
also serve as members of the District
Floodplain and Drainage Review Boards.

Front Row: District 2, Kent Cooper; District 3,
Hemant Patel; District 4, Shirley Long
Back Row: City of Phoenix, Tom Callow;
District 5, Melvin Martin
Not Pictured: District 1, Scott Ward;
Salt River Project, Paul Cherrington

3

General Manager’s Message
Much has been written over time about the early days
of the Wild West and the gunslingers, the pioneers
and the immigrants who dared to risk everything for
the chance of a lifetime. Although water brought life
and more "civilized" society to the arid region, the
pioneering spirit of the West remains. It was evident
44 years ago when the Arizona State Legislature
decided that something had to be done to control
flooding in Maricopa County and formed the Flood
Control District.
It was evident during the 1950s through the 1970s as
the District designed and constructed the ring of flood
control structures that surround the metropolitan
Phoenix area. In most recent years it has been
evident as the District turned its attention to providing
county residents not only protection from ravaging
floodwaters, but also the ability to enjoy many of the
structures that protect them, turning basins into parks
and channels into trails. And it was evident this year
as the District laid essential groundwork for a
potential partnership with the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA). This relationship will
allow the District to deliver the very latest techology
to all county residents. The District welcomes the
opportunity to work collaboratively with FEMA and
appreciates its recognition of our expertise. In the
future there will be more to say about this exciting
collaboration.
In fact the District continues to pioneer innovations
and technologies, proactive approaches and costcontainment methods. This strategic approach results
in direct benefits for county residents by:
! Identifying flood and erosion hazards ahead
of development;
! Providing fiscally responsible solutions for flood
hazards saving taxpayer dollars;
! Enhancing the quality of life through diminishing
the impacts of flooding; and
! Increasing opportunities for multi-use facilities.

Michael Ellegood, P.E.
Chief Engineer and General Manager

4

Mission and Vision
The mission of the Flood Control District of
Maricopa County is to provide regional flood
hazard identification, regulation, remediation,
and education to Maricopa County residents
so that they can reduce their risks of injury,
death, and property damage from flooding,
while still enjoying the natural and beneficial
values served by floodplains.
The District's vision is for the residents of
Maricopa County and future generations to
have the maximum level of protection from
the effects of flooding through fiscally
responsible flood control actions and multi-use
facilities that complement and enhance the
beauty of our desert environment.
We pledge to be responsive to our clients in
an efficient, effective, and fiscally responsible
manner. We will show personal integrity and
professionalism in all our actions, and display
continuous improvement, innovative thinking,
and technical expertise. We will be stewards
of the environment and the public’s trust, and
we will be concerned about the effects of our
actions on not only the current, but also
future generations.

District
Programs
The Flood Hazard Education program
supplies information to the public so that they
can be more knowledgeable about the risks of
floods and flood hazards, and the Flood Control
District projects, studies, and activities that will
affect them.
The Flood Hazard Identification program
provides the identification of, and alternative
solutions to flood hazards, and flood warning
data to public and private organizations so that
they can incorporate knowledge of flood
hazards in their plans within presently
developed and future urban growth areas.
The Flood Hazard Regulation program offers
guidance, direction, and enforcement to the
public so that they can avoid causing adverse
impacts to floodplains, and use their property
safely and in compliance with applicable state
and federal laws.
The Flood Hazard Remediation program
protects members of the public from flood
hazards through structural mitigation and buyout so that they can live with an acceptable risk
of loss of life or property due to flooding.
5

2002-2003 Flood Control District Highlights
A public and private partnership between
four agencies and ten private property
owners and developers shaped one of the
District's major accomplishments during the
year. Conceived a little over three years
ago and the largest major design project
completed in-house, the Laveen Area
Conveyance Corridor (LACC) will bring the
rapidly developing Laveen area relief from
over 1,400 acres of potential flood hazard.
A prime example of the District's strategy to
plan ahead of development, this project
was accelerated to meet the needs of the
growing community.
Construction on the project will begin in
Fiscal Year 2003-2004 and will be
completed in approximately 17 months.
The estimated cost of the initial
construction phase of the project is $7.1
million. Normally it would have taken more
than five years to reach this point in the
project. The LACC will serve as a flood
control facility to safely collect and drain
stormwater from 100-year and lesser storm
events. The project consists of 5.8 miles of
conveyance channel for stormwater and
irrigation tail water as well as a 17-acre
detention basin at 43rd and Southern
Avenues. Once construction is complete,
the project will be turned over to the City of
Phoenix for operation and maintenance.
In addition, the District continued its
emphasis on creating more community
friendly facilities through cost-sharing
arrangements with cities and developers
and completed the first phase of assessing
the safety of its 22 dams, which provide
necessary flood protection.
In 2002-2003, the District's annual budget,
inclusive of both operating and capital
programs, was $ 70.4 million with 63
percent of the District's revenue coming
from the flood control tax.
During the year, the District won several
awards including an achievement award
from the National Association of Counties
for its use of advanced modeling
technologies to evaluate potential flooding
hazards along Doubletree Ranch Road in
Paradise Valley. The District also won an
award for the North Peoria Area Drainage
Plan and the International Right of Way
Association named the Lands and Right-ofWay Division Employer of the Year.
6

Division Highlights
Administration
! Initiated a records retention plan and digital
record system

Engineering Division
! Initiated stormwater management on behalf
of Maricopa County

Information Technology
! Initiated procedures for a potential agreement
with the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA)

Lands and Right-of-way
! Expedited the acquisition and relocation of 72
houses and their occupants, as part of the
Bethany Home Outfall Channel, located in the
Maryvale area of Phoenix
! Completed the sale (by auction) of Camelback
Ranch South, located at 107th Avenue and
Camelback Road, for $12.8 million,
approximately 50 percent higher than the
appraised value

Operations and Maintenance
! Completed 70 percent of work orders, a 9
percent increase over the previous year
! Initiated aggressive mosquito management
plan to deal with the West Nile virus

District refines web site
At the beginning of the 2002-2003 fiscal year, the
District successfully launched an improved web
site that offers in-depth and timely information on
projects and services as well as online forms and
applications. The site is used by county residents,
elected officials and other agencies as a major
source of information on flooding and flood
control in Maricopa County.
Fiscal Year
2001-2002 2002-2003
Successful Hits (Entire Site)

4,602,366

9,239,126

Page Views

716,421

502,530*

Visits

155,394

211,828

Unique Visitors

24,630

34,696

* The number of page views has declined, however it is due to improved
navigation bringing visitors to their desired content more efficiently.

Planning and Project Management
! 13 planning studies under way to develop
drainage master plans for more than 1,200
square miles of the county; two studies were
completed
! 11 design projects under way; five projects
were completed
! Six construction projects under way; three
were completed with a total construction cost
of $14 million and cost growth of $0.7 million,
which represents only 5 percent of
construction cost.
! Work on the Capital Improvement Program
(CIP) projects resulted in utilizing 84 percent
of all available CIP budgeted funds

Regulatory
! Recognized role of the regulatory division and
reorganized it to be more effective and
functional
! Aligned sand and gravel management with
floodplain operations
! Completed eight floodplain delineation studies
for 441 miles of watercourses within the
county providing the basis to regulate growth
in flood hazard areas

Drainage Administration

Floodplain Management

Fiscal Year

Fiscal Year

2002-2003

2002-2003

Delineations Begun

7

Inspections Conducted

Delineations Completed

7

Miles driven by inspectors

Floodplain Use Permits
Phone Requests
Walk-in Customers
Flood Hazard Info Requests
Flood Hazard Info Notices

501
3,235
979

Flood Detection
& Data Collection

Permits reviewed
Total plan reviews completed
Drainage complaints

Fiscal Year

14,292
175,129

2002-2003

New ALERT Gauges

12

9,545

ALERT Web page hits

1,128

Gauge Repair Visits

990

Warning Messages & Alerts

434

303

19,952

5,305
65

7

Financial Commentary
Management Discussion and Analysis
The continuing sluggishness experienced in
the national and local economies had a
deleterious effect upon the District's
operations particularly in the Capital
Improvement Program (CIP). The success of
the District's Capital Improvement Program
relies to a great extent upon the formulation
of cost-sharing agreements with other
entities (municipalities, state agencies,
developers, etc.). During the year, potential
partners continued to demonstrate a
reluctance to commit funds to projects
when sources of revenue were uncertain
due to the slowed economy. Despite this,
the District's management team has
continued to be innovative and farsighted in
positioning programs to take advantage of
the economic recovery when it occurs.
Revenue
The District's revenue of $75,982,972
exceeded the budgeted amount of
$71,029,400 by $4,953,572 or
approximately 7 percent. Favorable revenue
collections were primarily the direct result of
the sale of the District's Camelback Ranch
property, which exceeded appraisal
estimates by approximately $5 million. All
other categories of revenue, with the
Actual Revenue

exception of rental income, approximated
budget levels at the beginning of the year.
Operating Expenditures
Overall the District realized a savings of
$884,401 from its originally approved
operating budget. This savings of 4 percent
was the result of management's effort to
critically analyze all District activities as to
efficiency and asset utilization and to adjust
priorities as necessary during the year to
assure that funding was available to those
efforts that return the most productive
services to the citizens of Maricopa County.
Personnel Services (payroll)
Operating payroll expenditures for the fiscal
year were within 0.2 percent of the total
anticipated in the original operating budget.
This on-budget performance was the result
of managing the District's personnel position
vacancies and new hires in a manner
consistent with providing adequate
personnel coverage for critical programs and
setting program priorities.
Operating Supplies and Services
During the fiscal year, the District continued
its practice of evaluating on a value-received
basis, each acquisition of supplies and

Land Sales
and Rental Income
19%

Secondary
Flood Control Tax
59%

Miscellaneous
0.2%

Local Partner
Participation
19%

Fund Balance
Interest Revenue
0.8%
Licenses
and Permits
2%

Revenue

Budget

Actual

Secondary Flood Control Tax

Category

$45,000,000

$44,302,534

-$697,466

98.5

Local Partner Participation

$15,073,000

$14,482,555

-$590,445

96.1

$1,800,700

$1,759,324

-$41,376

97.7

$850,000

$608,132

-$241,868

71.5

$75,000

$178,831

$103,831

238.4

$62798,700

$61,331,376

$1,467,324

97.7

Land Sales and Rental Income

$8,230,700

$14,651,597

6,420,897

Total Full Year Revenue

$71,029,400

$75,982,973

$4,953,573

Licenses and Permits
Fund Balance Interest Revenue
Misc.
Subtotal

8

Difference % Collected

outside service prior to committing budgeted
funds. As a result of this approach, the District's
expenditures for supplies and contracted
services registered a $648,173 favorable
variance to budget (5.7 percent). The scrutiny of
each expenditure was particularly successful in
the areas of structure maintenance supplies
(soil, cement, fertilizer, mortar, etc.) and outside
engineering contract expenditures (consulting,
planning, etc.). It also should be noted that the
favorable variance to the operating budget was
accomplished at the same time that the District
was fulfilling its statutorily mandated and
functional obligations.
As demonstrated, the District's expenditures in
fulfillment of its mandated and functional
responsibilities account for 90 percent of all
expenditures made during the fiscal year.
Administration expenditures account for slightly
more than 8 percent of the total expenditures to
fund operations during the fiscal year.
Non-CIP Capital Expenditures
In the District's continuing effort to expend
taxpayer funds only for those items considered
to be necessary to support flood control
operations, management delayed the acquisition
of several pieces of maintenance and
engineering equipment. The resultant savings
totaled $215,923.

Mandated and Functional Responsibility

Flood Warning & Detection System
Delineation Studies

Actual
Expenditures
$693,981
$1,545,990

Regulation of Floodplains

$511,309

Floodplain Hydrology Computer Modeling

$308,823

Regulation of Drainage

$1,792,245

Public Information & Public Education

$277,302

Water Quality

$592,395

Hydrometeorology

$382,687

District Land Management

$737,635

Planning Studies

Despite the sluggish economy, the District
expended approximately 84 percent of its
originally budgeted Capital Improvement
Program funds. Throughout the year,
management continuously re-evaluated the
program with an eye to changing priorities,
project delays and new capital project
opportunities. Several major CIP projects were
delayed as a result of partner reluctance to
commit funds to multi-year efforts until the
economy demonstrates signs of recovery.
Despite these difficulties, significant and
material gains were made toward completing
ongoing projects; many of which will come to
fruition during fiscal year 2003-2004.
Ending Flood Control District Balance
The District's fiscal year ending fund balance,
which is on account with the County Treasurer,
totaled $33,067,662. The amount exceeds the
anticipated total of $16,405,701 by
$16,661,961. The increase is a result of the
better than budgeted revenue collections
realized during the year and the less than
budgeted expenditure totals. The increase will
allow management to expand and intensify the
flood mitigation activities planned for future
years and greatly increases management
decision-making flexibility.

Delineation
Studies
2.5%
Flood Warning &
Detection System
1.1%
Central Service
Allocation
1.8%

Regulation
of Floodplains
.8%

Floodplain Hydrology
Computer Modeling
.5%

$683,031

County Surveying

$633,975

County Geographical Information Services

$364,596

Public Information
& Public Education
.4%
Water Quality
1%

Regulation
of Drainage
2.9%

Hydrometeorology
.6%

Administration
8.2%

District Land
Management
1.2%
Planning
Studies
4.5%

Dam Safety
Investigations
1.1%
County
Surveying
1%

$2,795,058

Dam Safety Investigations

Structures Maintenance

Capital Improvement Program

Structures Maintenance
5.6%
Capital Structures Program
66%

County
Geographical
Information Services
.6%

$3,478,579

Capital Structures Program

$40,773,261

Subtotal (Mandated & Functional)

$55,570,867

Administration (net of Central Service Allocation) $5,046,140
Central Service Allocation
Total

$1,122,858
$61,739,865

9

Statement of Revenues, Expenditures, and Change in Fund Balance
Budget and Actual for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2003
Preliminary & Unaudited

Budget

Actual

Variance

Revenue
Flood Control Tax

$45,000,000.00

$44,302,534.22

$697,465.78

Local Participation

$15,073,000.00

$14,482,554.89

-$590,445.11

Licenses & Permits

$1,800,700.00

$1,759,323.59

-$41,376.41

Land Sales And Rental Revenue

$8,230,700.00

$14,651,596.68

$6,420,896.68

$850,000.00

$608,132.03

-$241,867.97

$75,000.00

$178,831.46

$103,831.46

$71,029,400.00

$75,982,972.87

$4,953,572.87

Personnel Services

$9,812,635.00

$9,792,330.36

-$20,304.64

Supplies And Services
Professional Services
Maintenance Supplies And Services
Internal Services
Education And Travel
Other Supplies And Services
Capital Acquisitions

$6,073,364.00
$1,485,300.00
$2,696,696.00
$160,705.00
$939,510.00
$682,796.00

$5,918,267.43
$965,568.56
$2,738,439.39
$117,570.13
$967,555.72
$466,872.44

-$155,096.57
-$519,731.44
$41,743.39
-$43,134.87
$28,045.72
-$215,923.56

$21,851,006.00

$20,966,604.03

-$884,401.97

Interest Revenue
Miscellaneous
Total Revenue

Operating Expenses

Total Operating Expenditures

Capital Improvement Program (CIP)
Personnel Services

$2,600,000.00

$2,233,525.00

-$366,475.00

Real Estate

$6,556,000.00

$15,647,454.00

$9,091,454.00

Engineering

$9,900,000.00

$7,297,726.00

-$2,602,274.00

Construction

$28,576,000.00

$15,594,556.00

-$12,981,444.00

$968,000.00

$0.00

-$968,000.00

$48,600,000.00

$40,773,261.00

-$7,826,739.00

Project Reserve
Total CIP Expenditures

Total Expenditures
Fund Balance

$70,451,006.00
Budget

$61,739,865.03
Actual

-$8,711,140.97
-unfavorable

Fund Balance July 1,2002

$15,827,307.00

$18,824,555.00

-$2,997,248.00

Add Revenue

$71,029,400.00

$75,982,972.87

-$4,953,572.87

Total Funds Available

$86,856,707.00

$94,807,527.87

-$7,950,820.87

-$70,451,006.00

-$61,739,865.03

-$8,711,140.97

Less Expenditures

$16,405,701.00

10

$33,067,662.84 -$16,661,961.84

Capital Improvement Program Expenditures
For Fiscal Year Ending June 2003
Preliminary & Unaudited

Project Title/Description

Engineering

District Operations (Ortho Photography)

Land

Relocation &
Construction

$259,548

Compensation

Total

$15,654

$275,202

$2,658

$539,667

$2,111

$2,111

$108,409

$2,653,359

$1,439,729

$165,037

$1,604,766

$54,628

$2,728

$57,356

$18,694

$78,185

$286,702

$929,087

$8,690

$8,690

$91,694

$3,004,792

$4,497

$4,497

$24,453

$24,453

$16,298

$3,566

$19,864

$7,054

$30,302

$37,356

Buckeye/Sun Valley Area Drainage Master Plan $518,238

$67,400

$585,638

Wittmann Area Drainage Master Plan Update $1,062,281

$96,299

$1,158,580

$28,604

$414,870

$1,923

$1,923

$56,457

$75,962

$426

$426

$75,186

$375,680

$25,109

$993,297

$293,142

$4,519,767

$11,257

$11,257

$15,686

$20

$15,706

$1,217

$132,010

$1,395,870

$59,824

$157,634

$317

$317

$3,984

$274,931

$139,718

$2,804,149

$44,449

$56,665

Central Chandler Area Drainage System

$537,009

City Of Scottsdale
Town Of Guadalupe
Dam Safety

$45,153

Candidate Assessment Reports
Sossaman Channel
South Phoenix Drainage Improvements

$1,874

$3,643

$100

$265,990

$376,395

$2,497,923

$55,748

Paradise Valley, Scottsdale, Phoenix
East Maricopa Floodway

$882,834

$2,030,264

Tempe/Mesa Habitat Mitigation
Salt/Gila River
Arlington Valley Floodplain Acquisition
McMicken Dam

Aguila Area Drainage Master Plan

$379,864

$6,402

Cave Buttes Dam
Skunk Creek

$12,897

$6,608

New River Dam
Skunk Creek/New River

$147,986

$2,021

Spook Hill Area Drainage Master Plan

$49,257

$918,931

East Mesa Area Drainage Master Plan

$157,647

$40,656

$150,487

$4,028,322

Glendale/Peoria Area Drainage Master Plan
East Fork Cave Creek Area Drainage Master Plan
White Tanks Area Drainage Master Plan

$747,400

Queen Creek Area Drainage Master Plan

$515,243
$97,810

Gilbert/Chandler Area Drainage Master Plan
Higley Area Drainage Master Plan
Adobe Dam Area Drainage Master Plan

$270,947
$996,128

$1,626,172

$42,131

Durango Area Drainage Master Plan

$12,216

ACDC Area Drainage Master Plan

$74,100

$56,275

$3,388,066

$157,889

$3,676,330

$164,835

$9,704,158

$4,871,565

$262,385

$15,002,943

$11,870

$11,870

$61

$61

$2,233,525

$40,773,261

Maryvale Area Drainage Master Plan
Metro Area Drainage Master Plan

Upper Indian Bend Wash Area Drainage Master Plan
Total CIP Expenditures

$7,297,726 $15,647,454

$15,594,556

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About Maricopa County
Nearly 60 percent of Arizona's
population resides in Maricopa
County, which includes the cities of
Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler,
Scottsdale, Glendale, Peoria, and
Gilbert. Five of the 10 fastest
growing cities in the state are
located in Maricopa County. The
county was consistently one of the
fastest growing counties in the
country during the last decade.
This metropolitan area is home to
the state capitol as well as hightech, manufacturing, service and
agricultural industries, 15
institutions of higher learning,
various cultural and professional
sports attractions and Phoenix Sky
Harbor International Airport, the
fifth busiest airport in the world.
Maricopa County measures 9,226
square miles, 98 square miles of
which is water. With a population of
3.2 million, it is the fourth most
populous county and the 14th
largest county in the United States.
Five major river systems flow
through the county draining an area
of approximately 57,000 square
miles, which includes portions of
New Mexico and Mexico.

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Flood Control District
of Maricopa County
2801 West Durango Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85009
(602) 506-1501