Flood control project started
Friday, Feb. 20, 1998 | 10:27 a.m.
Sens. Harry Reid and Richard Bryan, both D-Nev., were among those present Thursday to celebrate the start of construction on the newest leg of the Blue Diamond Channel.
The Blue Diamond Channel, part of a $230 million project initiated by Reid in the early 1990s, will connect the Blue Diamond detention basin to the main Beltway Channel and reduce the risk of flood damage throughout the Las Vegas Valley.
"With thousands of new residents moving to Clark County each month and new businesses and housing developments popping up all over the Las Vegas Valley, we cannot afford any more devastating floods," said Reid, who is the ranking member of the Senate's Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee whose major responsibilities include flood control.
The two-mile stretch of channel -- running east from west of Rainbow Boulevard to Lindell Avenue -- will have a maximum depth of 13 feet and vary in width from 20 to 52 feet. The channel is part of an overall project which includes construction for 28 miles of primary flood channels and a network of collector channels.
Since 1960, Clark County has experienced at least eight separate incidents in which flood damage to public and private property exceeded $1 million. At least 23 lives have been lost in 10 separate flash flood events.
The purpose of the Blue Diamond Beltway Channel project is to greatly reduce the risk of flood damage from a 100-year flood which in 1983 caused seven deaths and an estimated $27 million in property damage.
The Blue Diamond Beltway Channel project is a joint effort between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Clark County Regional Flood District and Clark County Public Works.
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Kruger hoping his team will play with grit
- Pricing out wagers on the Pacquiao-Cotto fight
- RTC bus driver fired, arrested after allegedly attacking woman
- Two second-graders involved in shooting at bus stop
- CityCenter Realtors hit with cut in commissions
- Privé owner files for bankruptcy protection in Florida
- Trainers scuffle at Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto weigh-in
- Shanghai’s maglev: Flying with both feet on the ground
- Hooters reports loss, says Chapter 11 possible
- Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs among stars in Las Vegas for Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto fight
Blogs
The Kats Report
New face of Monte Carlo includes all the faces of Caliendo
The Greene Room
Predicting this weekend's Mountain West football slate
Top Chef: Las Vegas
Top Chef Episode 11: Child's play
Miech Again
UNLV prez Smatresk is ready for some basketball (5 Comments)
Politics: The Early Line
Harry Reid's fourth TV ad begins running today
The Greene Room
Chad Ochocinco vs. Anderson Silva? That would be a sight ... (4 Comments)
Top Chef: Las Vegas
The Jet Stream: The three stages of chefdom
Calendar »
- 14 Sat
- 15 Sun
- 16 Mon
- 17 Tue
- 18 Wed
-
Pacquiao vs. Cotto at the MGM Grand Garden Arena
MGM Grand Garden Arena | 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
-
Friends of India Diwali Celebration at Cashman Field with Dan Nainan
Cashman Field | 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
-
Norm MacDonald at the House of Blues
House of Blues
-
Boulder City Art Guild Winter Fest Fine Art Show
Boulder City Parks & Recreation
-
John Fogerty at the Star of the Desert Arena
Star of the Desert Arena | 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
-
Emeril Lagasse Foundation’s 5th annual Carnivale du Vin
The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino | 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati








