El Rodeo Channel

Date completed: October 1990
Cost: $1,850,000 approximately
More than 850 parcels were removed from Special Flood Hazard Areas post construction with a LOMR
Effective April 26, 2001.

The El Rodeo Channel project began as a hydrologic study that focused on the watershed that would be intercepted by a 4.5 mile reach of El Rodeo Road to the east of State Route 95. The information was used to evaluate improvements to El Rodeo Road that would provide all weather access to the new landfill. The study ultimately progressed to include the El Rodeo Channel.

The Channel project included an elevated roadway embankment and installation of five corrugated metal pipe culverts. The trapezoidal-shaped channel was constructed approximately 250 feet downstream to approximately 7,100 feet upstream of SR 95 and is 1.5 miles long. The channel has a natural-material bottom with a width that ranges from 120 to 165 feet. The 4:1 sloped banks are lined with soil-cement protection; and, twelve 12’x8’ concrete box culverts were installed at State Route 95 along the Mohave Washes.

The Channel was designed to convey 6,550 cubic feet per second (cfs), approximately two times greater than the current 100-year peak flow. Four major culvert systems were also installed through the roadway embankment. The Channel was sized on the assumption that a combined flow of 800 cfs would pass through the four culverts during the 100-year event.

It was determined that the channel is exposed to a less severe type of alluvial fan flooding than what might occur if the channel were located adjacent to the mountain front; the channel actually captures the flood water before it leaves this local apex and has a chance to spread over wide areas of downstream lands.

The El Rodeo Channel was fully funded by Mohave County. A joint project between Mohave County and the Arizona Department of Transportation constructed a large multi-cell box culvert at the intersection of SR 95 & El Rodeo Rd after the completion of the Channel.