Chairman's Message

Lawrence L. Brown III, Chairman City of Las Vegas

This past year, the District completed more construction projects than ever before bringing increased flood protection to all of Clark County.A record 21 flood control improvements wrapped up for a total of $136 million. This accomplishment was possible due to the District’s aggressive approach to securing additional funding and the cooperation of all the Public Works Departments in the cities and county.

In 2003, the District initiated a $200 million, tax-exempt commercial paper program to accelerate construction of flood control projects. The District, working with its member agencies, successfully expended all of those funds this past year and converted the program into long-term bonds.

To date, a network of 73 detention basins and 445 miles of channels and storm drains are collecting runoff and safely directing it through the regional drainage system. But the District has more work to do before Southern Nevada residents are protected from 100-year floods.  Another 62 detention basins and 413 miles of conveyance are planned over the next 30 years.

The Corps of Engineers’ work on the Tropicana and Flamingo Washes Project is continuing construction on the last feature, the F-4 Debris Basin and Channel. Work began on that project last year. This year federal laws impacted the Corps’ ability to reprogram money to projects facing funding shortages. So the District, working with the Nevada Delegation, was able to come up with the money needed to keep the project under construction. We are currently seeking federal appropriations in 2007 that will reimburse the District and complete the project.

The District has also changed the way we forecast how much will be constructed in the next 10 years. Taking a more proactive approach, the District charted when we can anticipate bonding in the future. This gives the member agencies time to design projects and secure rights-of-way so that construction can begin immediately when the influx of funds is available.

Another change was the implementation of a plan addressing environmental issues like illegal discharge into storm drains and channels. The Environmental Protection Agency audited the District and the member agencies regarding the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit.  The audit addressed successes in the program and noted areas that could be improved. The cities and county, along with the District, are working to implement improvements to the program over the next year.

We are proud of the accomplishments of the past two decades and will work to meet or exceed those past accomplishments in the future. This could not have been done without the regional perspective and support of the Board of Directors; the District’s highly qualified staff; the entities and their Public Works Departments throughout Clark County;  and our Nevada Delegation.  All of us working together focusing on our mission will help us meet our vision as a premier regional agency providing a community free from the devastation of floods.

Larry Brown
RFCD Chairman
City of Las Vegas Councilman