COCONINO COUNTY — The Schultz/Pipeline Flood Mitigation System received the Project of Year Award from the Arizona Chapter of the American Public Works Association at its annual conference last week in Tucson. The award was in the category of Disaster or Emergency Construction/Repair over $75 million. The award selection committee noted the significant engineering and construction that was completed in just over two years, which mitigates much of the flood threat to lives, homes, businesses and public infrastructure near Flagstaff.
“This extraordinary team accomplished an extraordinary goal,” County Board of Supervisor Chair Patrice Horstman said. “This project saves lives and was done in record time and under budget.”
Those receiving the award included the Coconino County Flood Control District staff, engineers from Civiltec Engineering, Natural Channel Design Engineering, JE Fuller Hydrology, Remal Engineering and Peak Engineering along with the construction contractor, Tiffany Construction.
“I’m honored to have worked with such an incredible team,” District Administrator Lucinda Andreani said. “The real reward is that the residents of the Schultz/Pipeline Flood Area can once again sleep at night.”
The project involves mitigating nine watersheds burned and reburned during the Pipeline Fire in 2022, which caused 45 major flood events during the summer of 2022. The total cost of the projects to date is about $120 million mitigating approximately 1,500 homes and several businesses in the area. To view a video about the project, go to youtu.be/jho89831xVk.