At the September 10 board meeting, Eric Shepp, Director of the Pima County Regional Flood Control District, and hydrologist Jacob Prietto presented flood information for Miramonte.
Key points
- Where our water goes. Runoff from Miramonte flows north to Christmas Wash and eventually to the Rillito River.
- The 100-year event. For Miramonte, this is roughly a 3-hour storm that drops 3 inches of rain. A "100-year" storm has a 1% chance of happening in any given year.
- Who would be affected. The County's floodplain map uses computer modeling of urban sheet flooding to show expected water depth and speed. It shows that broad areas of the neighborhood would flood in a 100-year event, especially along Camino Miramonte. Camino Miramonte is a paved-over wash.
- The data's age. The map is based on 2018 building conditions and lidar from 2015. It may not reflect development since then, such as The Benedictine.
Who handles what
- Pima County Regional Flood Control District does regional flood modeling, data collection, and large-scale mitigation, and gives data and advice to the City.
- City of Tucson Floodplain Administration works directly with homeowners on inspections and permits.
Planning a wall, regrading, or water-harvesting feature? Check with the City of Tucson first. The City handles inspections and permits for walls and other improvements that could affect drainage onto neighboring properties.
Update, October 2026
Pima County Flood Control is looking for sites along Christmas Wash to hold floodwater during storms. An Enterprise Car Rental lot in the Palo Verde neighborhood, just north of Miramonte, is being actively pursued, and the County wants six more sites. At the October board meeting, the lot on Miramonte south of Speedway, now used for staging the Fifth Street construction, was mentioned as a possible candidate.
Learn more
Have a question for the County? Contact us and MNA will pass it along.