Data Collection Report - Flood Control District of Maricopa County

Assessment of Existing Flood Control District FacilitiesExisting Flood Control facilities within the study area include the AguaFria River Channelization and Levee, the Holly Acres Bank Stabilizationand Levee, and the “Chicken Ranch” New River Mitigation Area. Notrespassing signs, locked gates, and fencing prohibit public access to theFCD facilities. All three offer potential opportunities for both visualenhancement and multiple uses. As they are all located along or adjacentto the river areas, all are extremely valuable lands and present multi useopportunities for trails and public information / educational displays.Restricted Public AccessAgua Fria Channelization and Levee -opportunity for needed visual enhancement and multiple usesViewing AnalysisHolly Acres BankStabilization and Levee -opportunity for needed visualenhancement and multipleuses“Chicken Ranch”New River Migitation Area -Lack of variety of understoryvegetationThere are opportunities for views both into and out of the study area.Mountain views are a dominant visual element in the Durango area. Acombination of the Estrella Mountains and South Mountain spans theentire south boundary of the Durango area. The relatively close up viewof these mountains can be described as a panoramic view of the entiremountain range as opposed to being directed or focused on a specificobject or form. The more distant views of the White Tank Mountainsare directed to the northwest. With its flat topography, few verticalobstructions and open character of the agricultural lands in the southwestportion of the study area present the greatest opportunities forunobstructed mountain views. In developed areas, there are verticalobstructions which direct and impact views. Mountain views are eitherchanneled along the north-south roadway corridors or occur overbuilding rooftops.Estrella Mountain ViewsOther viewing opportunities are afforded by elevated structures includingthe elevated freeway, elevated bridges across the rivers, and elevatedcanals and river levee areas. There is also one small hill immediatelysouth of the Salt River east of the 115th Avenue Bridge which presentsopportunities for views of the Tres Rios area in the foreground with theentire Durango Study area as background.. Selective clearing of heavilyvegetated areas along the Salt and Gila Rivers will open up additionalviewing opportunities.DIBBLE & ASSOCIATES 30 DURANGO ADMPDATA COLLECTION REPORT