The Town of Camp Verde worked quickly to set up a flood mitigation project in the Verde Lakes neighborhood, as far as the time it usually takes to get through red tape.
A heavy monsoon storm on July 17 dropped a lot of rain that found its way into Bull Pen Wash, a water course in the area that originally helped divert flood waters.
The wash was in poor condition due to erosion, in part from recreational vehicle use, as well as overgrowth along the banks in some parts.
The water, having to find some place to go, went out in several different directions causing flood damage to at least 27 homes.
Camp Verde Public Works Deputy Director Troy Odell talked about the actions the town took in the aftermath of the flooding and what steps are being taken to prevent something similar from happening in that area in the future.
Odell said that town employees responded almost immediately after the flood but that residents in the neighborhood were already at work cleaning up.
“We did as much as we could do,” Odell said. “Sand and sandbags were delivered.”
Odell said sandbags have been set up in strategic locations around Camp Verde.
The town also provided dumpsters for debris removal.
“What happened was over time, there was a buildup of sediment and overgrowth,” Odell said. “The flowline went up and up and up until there was no watercourse any more.”
To read the full story, see the Wednesday, Sept. 16, edition of The Camp Verde Journal.
