Winslow Levee to undergo reconstruction with funding from Arizona, Navajo County and Winslow
Navajo-Hopi Observer
WINSLOW, Ariz. — Governor
Katie Hobbs and the state
legislature have approved $20
million for the reconstruction
of the Winslow Levee, Navajo
County announced May 11.
The project will be the
largest public works project
in northeastern Arizona. This
funding, along with local
matching funds from Navajo
County and the city of Winslow,
will be combined with $66
million in federal funds already
allocated by Congress to pay for
the entire project.
Reconstruction of the levee
will protect thousands of
Winslow residents and is key
to unlocking economic growth
in the region which has been
effectively prohibited since
FEMA levee decertification in
2008, the county said in a press
release.
“We are so thankful for the
leadership of Governor Hobbs
who prioritized funding for our
region and Senate President
Warren Peterson who made sure
the appropriation for the levee
was included in the final budget,”
said Navajo County Board of
Supervisors Chairman Alberto
Peshlakai. “Senator Theresa
Hatathlie and Representative
David Cook worked throughout
the legislative session to gain
bipartisan support for the
project while Winslow Mayor
Roberta Cano, the Winslow
City Council, and staff put in
numerous hours working with
our team to convey the impact
of this project on the City and
the County. We are also grateful
for Senator Wendy Rodgers’
efforts to support this project
in the final Senate budget and
to our LD6 and LD7 legislators;
Representative Myron Tsosie,
Representative Mae Peshlakai,
and Representative David
Marshall, Sr. for voting ‘yes’ to
get the final budget passed.”
The failure of the levee has
impacted Winslow’s homes,
businesses, schools and hospitals,
and residents have spent over
$15 million in higher insurance
premiums since decertification,
the county said.
In addition to protecting
residents, the new levee
will protect railroad and
transportation infrastructure
which provides access to
available land and natural
resources in the area.
“The significance of this
budget approval is a wonderful
and positive step forward to
advance the overall strength,
economic growth, and expansion
for the Winslow Community,”
stated Winslow Mayor Roberta
Cano. “I am immensely proud
of our City Council, staff,
Navajo County partners, and
those lobbying for change on
our behalf that have worked
tirelessly to make this moment
a reality. Opportunities for
development that once seemed
unobtainable due to the flood
plain are now within reach, and
the benefits that this funding
provides will be a magnificent
impact to economic prosperity
in both the City of Winslow
and our surrounding Indigenous
communities. We can ensure that
with this project, our community
members can enjoy a bright
future in Northern Arizona.”
The pre-construction,
engineering and design phase of
the project should be underway
by mid-summer, the county said.
Winslow Levee to undergo reconstruction with funding from Arizona, Navajo County and Winslow
Navajo-Hopi Observer
WINSLOW, Ariz. — Governor
Katie Hobbs and the state
legislature have approved $20
million for the reconstruction
of the Winslow Levee, Navajo
County announced May 11.
The project will be the
largest public works project
in northeastern Arizona. This
funding, along with local
matching funds from Navajo
County and the city of Winslow,
will be combined with $66
million in federal funds already
allocated by Congress to pay for
the entire project.
Reconstruction of the levee
will protect thousands of
Winslow residents and is key
to unlocking economic growth
in the region which has been
effectively prohibited since
FEMA levee decertification in
2008, the county said in a press
release.
“We are so thankful for the
leadership of Governor Hobbs
who prioritized funding for our
region and Senate President
Warren Peterson who made sure
the appropriation for the levee
was included in the final budget,”
said Navajo County Board of
Supervisors Chairman Alberto
Peshlakai. “Senator Theresa
Hatathlie and Representative
David Cook worked throughout
the legislative session to gain
bipartisan support for the
project while Winslow Mayor
Roberta Cano, the Winslow
City Council, and staff put in
numerous hours working with
our team to convey the impact
of this project on the City and
the County. We are also grateful
for Senator Wendy Rodgers’
efforts to support this project
in the final Senate budget and
to our LD6 and LD7 legislators;
Representative Myron Tsosie,
Representative Mae Peshlakai,
and Representative David
Marshall, Sr. for voting ‘yes’ to
get the final budget passed.”
The failure of the levee has
impacted Winslow’s homes,
businesses, schools and hospitals,
and residents have spent over
$15 million in higher insurance
premiums since decertification,
the county said.
In addition to protecting
residents, the new levee
will protect railroad and
transportation infrastructure
which provides access to
available land and natural
resources in the area.
“The significance of this
budget approval is a wonderful
and positive step forward to
advance the overall strength,
economic growth, and expansion
for the Winslow Community,”
stated Winslow Mayor Roberta
Cano. “I am immensely proud
of our City Council, staff,
Navajo County partners, and
those lobbying for change on
our behalf that have worked
tirelessly to make this moment
a reality. Opportunities for
development that once seemed
unobtainable due to the flood
plain are now within reach, and
the benefits that this funding
provides will be a magnificent
impact to economic prosperity
in both the City of Winslow
and our surrounding Indigenous
communities. We can ensure that
with this project, our community
members can enjoy a bright
future in Northern Arizona.”
The pre-construction,
engineering and design phase of
the project should be underway
by mid-summer, the county said.