FLAGSTAFF, Ariz – The City of Flagstaff received three awards last month from national and Arizona state organizations for the Schultz Creek Drainage Improvements Project at US Hwy 180. The project, which was completed in Fall 2024, saw the installment of a box culvert under US Hwy 180 and was the last piece of post-wildfire mitigation in the Schultz Creek corridor, an area that received over seven floods in 2022 after the Pipeline Fire. The full suite of projects has completely mitigated the post-wildfire flash flood threats in the impacted watershed, protecting over 200 homes, an elementary school, and critical facilities.
Honors include Arizona Project of the Year for Disaster or Emergency Repair by the American Public Works Association (APWA); a 2025 Project Achievement Award by the American Concrete Pipe Association (ACPA); and a 2024 Arizona Transportation Partnering Excellence Award by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT).
The project was managed by Water Services Engineering Section Director Mac McNamara and the City of Flagstaff Stormwater Section. Construction was completed by city contractor J. Banicki Construction with the majority of funding provided by Arizona State Bill 1720 and additional funding from the City of Flagstaff Stormwater Utility.
Awarding organizations praised the project for its use of a specialty pre-cast box culvert in an Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) right-of-way, a first of that particular design in Arizona. They also recognized the project team for their excellence in communication, collaboration among multiple government entities, and the ability to design, procure, and deliver the project in less than two years after the disaster. Thanks to the work of the project team, nearby neighborhoods will be removed from the FEMA special flood hazard area designation as well as being mitigated from wildfire flash flood threats.
For more information about City of Flagstaff post-wildfire flood mitigation efforts, visit flagstaff.az.gov/stormwater. More information about the awarding organizations can be found at apwa.org, concretepipe.org, and azdot.gov.
