Powerline Plan and Environ. Assessment Jan. 2013 - Flood Control ...

Powerline Flood Retarding Structure
Pinal County, AZ
Draft Supplemental Watershed Plan
and Environmental Assessment
3.0 SCOPE OF PLAN/EA
The scoping process followed the general procedures contained in the Water Resources Council’s
Principles and Guidelines and Section 501.35 of the NRCS National Watershed Program Manual.
The procedures require that environmental and cultural resources be considered early in the
planning process by an interdisciplinary team of technical specialists, in consultation with all
interested parties.
The scoping process was used during development of the Powerline FRS Supplemental Watershed
Plan and Environmental Assessment (Plan/EA) to focus planning efforts on problems and
opportunities of most importance to all interested parties. Scoping was utilized to focus the goals of
the planning effort and thereby narrow the range of identified alternatives. Comments and questions
were solicited from local citizens, groups, and local, State, and Federal agencies throughout the
planning effort. Public and/or agency comments were received. Several identified concerns were
identified by the Sponsors and project team and are listed in Table 3-1 below.
Two public meetings were held during the planning process for the Powerline, Vineyard Road, and
Rittenhouse (PVR) Flood Retarding Structures Rehabilitation or Replacement Project. The first
meeting was held on November 4, 2010. This purpose of this meeting was to introduce the public
to the project location and purpose and need for the project. The second meeting was held on
February 1, 2011. The purpose of this meeting was to solicit input from the public regarding
planning alternatives for the PVR project. Meeting notices/announcements were published in local
newspapers and mailed to several Federal and State agencies. The Sponsor provided a program
overview at both public meetings. At the second meeting Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.
provided an overview of the study alternatives that were developed and presented for public input.
Several comments were received by the public at the second public meeting.
A third public meeting is scheduled for February 12, 2013 during the public review period. The
purpose of this meeting will be to present the preferred alternative as described in this draft
Plan/EA and to solicit comments and questions regarding the proposed project.
The purpose and need for the project is to provide continued flood protection and to reduce the
risk of loss of life due to catastrophic dam failure and flooding. Action is needed to address public
health and safety issues surrounding a flood control dam that does not meet existing safety and
performance standards for a high hazard potential structure.
Table 3-1 Evaluation of Identified Concerns
ITEM/CONCERN
Relevant to the
proposed
action? 1/
RATIONALE
Yes No
SOILS
Upland Erosion X No concerns in study area.
Stream Bank Erosion X No concerns in study area.
USDA- NRCS Page 3-1 January 2013
Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.