The mission of the Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District is to protect people, property and watersheds from damage or destruction from flood and storm waters and to conserve, reclaim and save such water for beneficial use. The District is a special district created by an act of the California State Legislature in 1945. The District encompasses more than 2,700 square miles in the western portion of Riverside County. Before the District’s inception, severe flooding occurred throughout much of the county during the winter season. To control flooding in Riverside County, the State Legislature established the District, thereby creating an entity charged with keeping county residents safe from flooding hazards. At the same time, the State Legislature also established an independent funding source for flood control projects. Today, through effective engineering, drain and channel construction, regulation and public education, massive flooding is less common.
The Flood Control and Water Conservation District provides the following services: Identification of Flood Hazards and Problems; Regulation of Floodplains and Development; Regulation of Drainage and Development; County Watercourse and Drainage Planning; Education of Flood Prevention and Safety; Construction of Flood Control Structures and Facilities; Flood Warning and Early Detection; and Maintenance and Operation of Completed Structures. The District has over 230 employees in seven divisions: Planning, Design and Construction, Surveying and Mapping, Regulatory, Operations and Maintenance, Finance and Information Technology. Most of the District’s engineers work in the Planning, Regulatory and Design divisions, preparing the hydrologic, hydraulic, and structural design of a variety of drainage facilities. District projects include underground storm drains, detention basins, dams, levees, and open channels with costs ranging from $50,000 to over $12,000,000. For additional information, please visit: http://www.floodcontrol.co.riverside.ca.us/