The Marana Parks and Recreation Department is completing construction for a Bank Protection Project along the Loop Bike path on the Santa Cruz West Bank. Pima County Flood Control District is constructing this improvement to better protect the El Rio Preserve from frequent flooding, allowing for restoration and further park enhancements. Pima County Regional Flood Control District was asked by the Town of Marana to design and construct bank protection along the northern side of the El Rio Preserve on the Santa Cruz River. This will replace the eroded earthen berm that previously protected this area. As part of this project, Pima County did construct a small soil cement plant to make the soil cement on location for efficiency; this soil cement plant will be disassembled and removed at the conclusion of the project.

The intent of the bank protection is to slow water down to help minimize the damage from frequent flooding in the El Rio Preserve and along the Loop bike path. This improvement will significantly reduce the amount of trash and invasive species that flow in during a storm event. The bank protection will be constructed from soil cement and is being designed to protect the El Rio Preserve from receiving flows up to the 25-year event. The Town of Marana’s Parks and Recreation Department is working closely with Pima County Flood Control District in coordinating this project.

This project is scheduled to be completed by December 2020. For additional information, click here.