NRCS Helps Arizona Landowners Recover from 1000-Year Flood 

Contact: Renee Bodine (602) 280-8778
or George Couch (602) 280-8806


SAFFORD, ARIZ., Nov. 13, 2006 – “This is my home. I’m in love with the place.”

During a six-day monsoon this summer, John Franzone’s home and property absorbed up to 14 inches of rain. The home that he loves is in danger of being flooded or washed away because of the effects of this monsoon. And so are the homes of his neighbors in Aravaipa Canon and nearby Safford, Arizona.

The federal government is helping Franzone through the Emergency Watershed Protection program. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) manages the program, and it is being offered to residents of Graham County.

Franzone and his neighbors need this assistance because of the enormous amount of rain that fell from July 26-Aug. 2. Called a once in 1,000 year event, rainfall measured from 10-14 inches across Graham County during the six days. Some bridges no longer bridge anything, but are filled with soil, rocks, and debris. Rivers and washes now encroach on homes, with some homes almost close enough to fall into these expanded washes.

Costs to repair the damage could run as high as $5 million. NRCS pays 75 percent of the cost, with a sponsor responsible for the remaining 25 percent. In some cases, the landowner pays the 25 percent. However, Graham County has agreed to be a sponsor and could pay the 25 percent in areas of high priority.

Aravaipa Canon may have received the most rain in Graham County during this event. One of Franzone’s neighbors, Bonnie Garwood, was out of town when the rains fell. The changes were drastic for her when she returned.

“You get so used to different landmarks. I had to ask, where am I,” said Garwood.

Closer to Safford, Marcum Creek runs by Tom Calvin’s home. A concrete bridge on his property, with the year 1928 etched into it, was a bridge Calvin walked under before the flood. He has to dust away the soil now to see the 1928 etching. The rest of the bridge is covered with soil that was washed over it from the monsoon.

“It will be a bridge again. I’m not giving up,” said Calvin.

Calvin, Garwood, and Franzone are all planning on using the Emergency Watershed Protection program to help fix the flood damage on their property. Without it, they would be forced to fix the problems themselves. “I’d get a home equity loan, said Franzone.

For more information about the Emergency Watershed Protection Program, visit the Web at www.az.nrcs.usda.gov/programs. 




                                                                                          #