The Board of Supervisors Tuesday authorized the Riverside County Flood Control & Water Conservation District to hire a construction company to make emergency repairs within a channel near Cathedral City that was compromised as a result of Tropical Storm Hilary.
In a 5-0 vote without comment, the board signed off on the district's $300,000 contract with Santa Ana-based Sukut Construction for repair and fortification work in the Palm Canyon Wash.
"(Storm-impacted) facilities can leave adjacent properties, residents and communities vulnerable to damage from flooding or erosion during future storms, which could result in a critical threat to life and property," according to an agency statement posted to the board's agenda. "In the event of a storm, the surrounding areas may be negatively impacted unless emergency measures are taken."
According to flood control officials, the wash, located in the vicinity of South Gene Autry Trail and East Palm Canyon Drive, just south of Cathedral City, was among facilities that sustained damage during Tropical Storm Hilary in August.
The contract with Sukut calls for restorative measures, including fortifying eroded side slopes, "installing local drainage features to ensure interior drainage and implementing other emergency work as directed by the district."
Sukut was selected without competitive bidding, which officials attributed to the immediate need for repairs, with the potential for heavy rain prior to the start of winter.
Similar repair and readiness projects following Hilary have been focused on Potrero Creek, Mission Creek Channel, Murrieta Creek and the Tahquitz Creek channel and basin.
The tropical storm deluged parts of Riverside County over a two-day period, beginning Sunday, Aug. 20.
The Coachella Valley bore the brunt of storm damage, including flooded roads, downed power lines and damaged rooftops on homes and businesses.
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