Fire prevention and water diversion was the goal of two Federal Emergency Management Agency approved for submission by city council at its Feb. 18 meeting. Both grants, totaling more than $12.6 million together, aim to reduce fire fuel near the White Tank Mountain Range and mitigate floodwater damage near the Buckeye Central Water Reclamation Facility.
Grant No. 1: Flood mitigation
The Buckeye Central Water Reclamation Facility may get a flood prevention earthwork ring levee should the city be selected for a $12 million Federal Emergency Management Agency grant.
City Council approved the grant application's submission at its Feb. 18 meeting. The grant is part of FEMA's Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities with the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs.
The levee's proposed design would divert floodwaters into the Gila River and would include a nearly 4-acre expansion south of the reclamation facility to "accommodate future growth," according to city documents.
"If the reclamation facility were to flood and become inoperable, approximately 10,463 service customers will be at risk of sewage backup," reads the document. "This creates a risk to public safety, public health, hazardous materials exposure and Central Water Reclamation Facility and customer infrastructure damage."
More than 10,000 service customers would benefit from the levee, according to the city.
Should the city be selected for the grant, it would receive $9 million from FEMA over two to three years, with the city matching $3 million during that timeframe. The Water Department would be responsible for maintenance, estimated to be $4,000 per year.
Read city documents about the levee and grant submission HERE.
Grant No. 2: Reduce fire fuel
The $670,000 grant would fund fire fuel removal over a two-year timespan. Focusing on the White Tank Mountain Range and abutting communities, the areas covered would include Verrado and Skyline Regional Park.
"The fire fuel removal will improve firefighter and public safety, reduce wildfire risk to humans, wildlife, and property," reads city documents.
Should the city be selected, FEMA would provide $502,500 and the city would match $167,500. The grant would be issued for fiscal years 2026-2028.
Read city documents about the grant submission HERE.
