Arizona House members seek improvements for McMicken Dam
Jul 29, 2020, 4:05 AM
(Facebook Photo/Flood Control District of Maricopa County)
(Facebook Photo/Flood Control District of Maricopa County)
PHOENIX — U.S. Reps. Debbie Lesko and Greg Stanton were joined by the entire Arizona congressional delegation on Monday in calling for a feasibility study regarding improvement options for the McMicken Dam in Surprise.
In a letter sent to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chief Lt. General Todd T. Semonite and Army Assistant Secretary R.D. James, the House representatives requested support for the study due to the dam’s needed repairs and potential threat to public safety.
“Unfortunately, due to dam safety deficiencies, land subsidence, earth fissuring, urbanization and non-compliance with current dam safety standards, the ability of the dam to maintain its current level of protection is questionable at best,” the letter stated.
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“The FCDMC [Flood Control District of Maricopa County] has determined that rehab of the dam, outlet and emergency spillways are necessary to keep the dam in service … A USACE feasibility study to evaluate alternatives to ensure long-term flood protection to downstream areas is critical.”
The McMicken Dam was constructed in 1955 by the USACE and currently provides flood protection for approximately 130,000 metro Phoenix residents, the Phoenix Goodyear Airport, Interstate 10, Luke Air Force Base, hospitals and schools.
“The growth we’ve seen in our region is possible in large part because of smart, forward-thinking infrastructure projects like the McMicken Dam,” Stanton said in a press release.
“We need to begin important maintenance and rehab of the dam so that it continues to do its job and protects future generations — that starts with this study.”
