The project identifies and applies criteria for feasible multiuse basins as decentralized flood-mitigation infrastructure in Tucson by evaluating potential sites for financial, environmental, and social sustainability at both watershed and site scales across three MS4-focused study areas.
Researchers
- Courtney Crosson, Principal Investigator (University of Arizona)
- Daoqin Tong, Co-Principal Investigator (Arizona State University)
- Student Research and Design Teams
Community Partners and Consultants
- Pima County Regional Flood Control District
- Local Ward offices for each project site
- Neighborhood associations surrounding each identified site
Project Details
Budget: $152,000
Where: Pima County, Arizona (Tucson Metropolitan Area)
When: Fall 2023 through Summer 2026
Project Overview
The intent of this project is to identify, understand, and apply the criteria that make multi-use basins feasible as a decentralized infrastructure to mitigate flooding in the Tucson area. Potential sites will be tested for their suitability and financial, environmental, and social sustainability potential. The work will be conducted at an urban (watershed) scale and then at a site scale. Three focus areas will be investigated, which represent the focus for MS4 permit opportunities in the Tucson basin.
Project Description
YEAR 1
Fall 2023
• Multi-objective modeling to locate 5-6 sites in Area A based on a host of environmental and social equity objectives (Tong/Crosson)
• The District prepares any necessary maps/materials for the 5-6 selected sites for design (the District)
Spring 2024
• The identified 5-6 sites are designed by student teams (Crosson)
• Contact local Ward office(s) for each of the 5-6 sites (Crosson)
• Community engagement with Wards and neighborhood associations of each site to inform multi-use design for flood reduction and social betterment (Crosson)
• The District provides iterative hydrological modeling 2-3 times in the semester to inform design (the District)
• The District attends at least mid-term and final review (the District)
• The District visits class at least one time to discuss hydrology and hydraulics with students (the District)
• Finalized schematic designs for 5-6 sites presented to the District (and other associated government bodies as desired) in a final presentation (Crosson)
• The District provided with complete booklets for each of the 5-6 sites containing plans, sections, at least three renderings and rough budgets for each site (Crosson)
Summer 2024
• Support to finalize a chosen site from the previous semester for development as a constructed site for MS4 permitting (Crosson/the District)
YEAR 2
Fall 2024
• Multi-objective modeling to locate 5-6 sites in Area B based on a host of environmental and social equity objectives (Tong/Crosson)
• The District prepares any necessary maps/materials for the 5-6 selected sites for design (the District)
Spring 2025
• The identified 5-6 sites are designed by student teams (Crosson)
• Contact local Ward office(s) for each of the 5-6 sites (Crosson)
• Community engagement with Wards and neighborhood associations of each site to inform multi-use design for flood reduction and social betterment (Crosson)
• The District provides iterative hydrological modeling 2-3 times in the semester to inform design (the District)
• The District attends at least mid-term and final review (the District)
• The District visits class at least one time to discuss hydrology and hydraulics with students (the District)
• Finalized schematic designs for 5-6 sites presented to the District (and other associated government bodies as desired) in a final presentation (Crosson)
• The District provided with complete booklets for each of the 5-6 sites containing plans, sections, at least three renderings and rough budgets for each site (Crosson)
Summer 2025
• Support to finalize a chosen site from the previous semester for development as a constructed site for MS4 permitting (Crosson/the District)
YEAR 3
Fall 2025
• Multi-objective modeling to locate 5-6 sites in Area C based on a host of environmental and social equity objectives (Tong/Crosson)
• The District prepares any necessary maps/materials for the 5-6 selected sites for design (the District)
Spring 2026
• The identified 5-6 sites are designed by student teams (Crosson)
• Contact local Ward office(s) for each of the 5-6 sites (Crosson)
• Community engagement with Wards and neighborhood associations of each site to inform multi-use design for flood reduction and social betterment (Crosson)
• The District provides iterative hydrological modeling 2-3 times in the semester to inform design (the District)
• The District attends at least mid-term and final review (the District)
• The District visits class at least one time to discuss hydrology and hydraulics with students (the District)
• Finalized schematic designs for 5-6 sites presented to the District (and other associated government bodies as desired) in a final presentation (Crosson)
• The District provided with complete booklets for each of the 5-6 sites containing plans, sections, at least three renderings and rough budgets for each site (Crosson)
Summer 2026
• Support to finalize a chosen site from the previous semester for development as a constructed site for MS4 permitting (Crosson/the District)
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