Key Details of the South Palm Canyon Flood Control Bridge Project
The Palm Springs City Council recently made a significant decision to approve a $10 million flood control bridge project on South Palm Canyon Drive. The vote was unanimous, with a 3-0 approval, and it marks a major step forward for a plan that has been in development for nearly two decades. The project is designed to provide critical flood protection at a key crossing that has repeatedly closed during heavy storms, cutting off access to approximately 700 homes in the area.
The location of the project is at South Palm Canyon Drive near East Bogert Trail, where the infrastructure has long struggled with flooding issues. The council’s decision came after a lengthy public hearing that highlighted differing perspectives among residents and environmental advocates. While many residents supported the project due to concerns over emergency access, environmental groups expressed worries about potential harm to local wildlife, particularly endangered bighorn sheep.
Community Engagement and Public Response
Community outreach efforts over the past 100 days revealed that public safety and emergency access were the top concerns among residents. Out of the comments received, 45% supported the project, 30% opposed it, and 25% were neutral or seeking more information. The city also heard from 30 speakers during the public testimony, with the majority expressing support for the current design.
Mark Waier of Daley Strategies, who conducted community outreach for the city, emphasized the importance of the project as a critical artery leading to the south Palm Springs area. He noted that there are 700 homes relying on this right of way, and last year there were 590 emergency calls from that area alone.
Project Design and Environmental Concerns
The proposed project involves replacing the current roadway with an elevated bridge structure, allowing floodwaters from Oswit Canyon to pass underneath through a rock-lined channel. According to city staff, the alluvial fan can generate runoff of up to 1.3 million gallons per minute during a 100-year storm event.
Residents strongly supported the project, citing repeated flooding events that have left them trapped in their neighborhoods during emergencies. Karen Miller shared her experience from a 2019 Valentine’s Day storm, when she drove through floodwaters and faced life-threatening conditions.
Palm Springs Fire Chief Paul Alvarado endorsed the project, stating that the 2019 flood and Tropical Storm Hillary stretched his firefighters “to the limit” during rescue efforts. He emphasized that the bridge would improve safety and allow firefighters to access the neighborhood without unnecessary risks.
However, environmental groups, including the Oswit Land Trust, opposed the city’s design. They requested that the council wait for updated environmental reviews before proceeding. These groups raised concerns about habitat destruction for peninsular bighorn sheep and proposed alternative designs, such as a flood wall instead of the engineered channel. However, city engineers questioned the performance and reliability of these alternatives.
Financial and Timeline Considerations
Construction costs have doubled since 2021 due to inflation and project delays caused by litigation. The city has allocated approximately $10 million for the project, with federal funds covering $4.5 million and local sources providing the remainder. The city can also request additional funding from CalTrans if needed.
The council authorized staff to finalize environmental review and complete construction plans for bidding, but added requirements for ongoing community engagement and a communication timeline to keep stakeholders informed of project milestones. The project cannot proceed to construction until a CEQA addendum is completed, expected in August 2025.
