A. This title is one aspect of land and resource management planning in Pima County for watercourses, flood waters, drainage, and floodplains as well as those associated floodplain features relating to erosion, sedimentation, and riparian habitat. Floodplain management must be seen in perspective, not only as flood hazard minimization but also as one element of an integrated program of natural resource management and flood and erosion hazard reduction.
B. The Pima County Flood Control District recognizes that it is both necessary and desirable to maintain a balanced and cooperative relationship between human communities and the land and resources that sustain them. Maintaining the stability of the environment is essential.
C. It is the intent of the Pima County Flood Control District that:
1. The highest and best use of regulatory floodplains within the county is for maintenance of natural hydrologic and hydraulic stream flow processes, with consideration for groundwater recharge, aesthetics, natural open space, recreation areas, and flora, fauna, and other wildlife habitat resources;
2. Any human habitation or structural developments, which limit natural processes within floodprone or erosion hazard areas, be discouraged, and shall be limited to the extent allowable by law;
3. Lands within the regulatory floodplain including riparian habitat and erosion hazard areas are managed by the Pima County Flood Control District to preserve or enhance natural values and expressed resource management goals;
4. Regulatory controls for floodplain management emphasize overall watershed management, and prevention of unwise human occupation or encroachment into regulatory floodplain and erosion hazard areas; and
5. Natural floodplain areas, streams, washes, arroyos, rivers, and drainage courses should be preserved in their natural riverine condition, whenever possible, and any land-use proposal, that utilizes this approach, will be considered superior to all others.
D. The purpose of this title is to protect the public health, safety, and general welfare of the citizens of Pima County, and protect the natural character of our watercourses, water resources, and environment by adopting regulations designed to:
1. Minimize flood and erosion damages;
2. Meet or exceed state and federal requirements relating to floodplain management, thereby enabling Pima County residents to purchase low-cost flood insurance; receive disaster relief, should the need arise; and seek residential and commercial real-estate loans;
3. Establish minimum flood protection elevations and damage prevention requirements for structures and other types of development that may be vulnerable to flood and erosion damage;
4. Regulate encroachment and building development located within areas subject to flooding, or erosion, or located within riparian habitat areas, and assure that the flood-carrying capacity within the altered and/or relocated portion of any watercourse is maintained;
5. Encourage the most effective expenditures of public money for flood control projects;
6. Minimize the need for rescue and relief efforts associated with flooding and erosion, which are generally undertaken at the expense of the general public;
7. Minimize damage to public facilities and utilities, such as water and gas mains; electric, telephone and sewer lines; and streets and bridges located in regulatory floodplain and erosion hazard areas;
8. Help maintain a stable tax base by providing for the protection of regulatory floodplain and erosion hazard areas;
9. Inform the public where property lies within a regulatory floodplain, riparian habitat area or erosion hazard area;
10. Ensure that those who occupy areas within regulatory floodplain and erosion hazard areas assume the responsibility for their actions within those areas;
11. Protect, preserve and enhance groundwater recharge; and
12. Encourage the preservation of natural washes, riparian habitat, as well as preserve the riverine environment.
E. In order to accomplish protection of public health and safety and reduction of flood losses, this ordinance includes methods and provisions for:
1. Restricting or prohibiting uses which are dangerous to health, safety and property due to water or erosion hazards, or which result in increased erosion, flood heights or velocities, or flood volumes;
2. Requiring that uses vulnerable to floods, including facilities which serve such uses, be protected against flood damage at the time of initial construction;
3. Controlling the alteration of natural floodplains, stream channels and natural protective barriers, which help accommodate or channel flood waters;
4. Controlling filling, grading, dredging and other development which may increase flood damage; and
5. Preventing or regulating the construction of flood barriers that will unnaturally divert flood waters may increase flood hazards in other areas.
(Ord. 2010-FC5 § 1 (part), 2010; Ord. 2005 FC-2 § 2 (part), 2005; Ord. 1999 FC-1 § 1 (part), 1999; Ord. 1988 FC-2 Art. 2 (B), (C), 1988)