Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find out which flood zone my property is in?

Visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) web site to determine if your property or property you are considering buying is in a flood zone.

Who do I call with a drainage complaint?

With complaints or concerns about standing water in the street or flooding in your area call Engineer III Brent Sunamoto at 456-3292, or you can e-mail him at brenths@fresnofloodcontrol.org.

With so many ponding basins around town full of water, what does the District do to prevent the spread of West Nile Virus through mosquito breeding?

Since 2005 the District has proactively responded to community concerns regarding the spread of West Nile Virus in the Central Valley.

Are any contracts for District work coming up for bid?

Find out about Bid Opportunities here.

Who do I call to report illegal dumping in a storm drain or ponding basin?

Call the District’s Illegal Dumping Hotline at 456-8632. You may also use this web site for response within the next business day – click here. If the incident is in progress and involves hazardous materials, please contact your city fire department, police, sheriff, or the County of Fresno Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Team at 445-3271 or 1-800-742-1011 between the hours of 8 am - 5 pm. After hours call 488-3111.

How is the District governed and funded?

The Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District is a public agency governed by a seven-member board, serving the metropolitan region of Fresno County. The Fresno City Council appoints four members; the Fresno County Board of Supervisors appoints two members; and the Clovis City Council appoints one member. Each director serves a four-year term and may be reappointed for consecutive terms. The Board must approve the District budget, fees and assessments, direct matters of policy and enact ordinances, and perform other responsibilities authorized and required by the District Act. Board meetings normally occur on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month.

Capital facilities such as pipeline, basin, reservoir, and dam construction, are funded through local development ordinances and operations are funded through a limited voter authorized tax. The District is authorized to collect 20¢ on every $100 of assessed property value within its service area, while the amount actually collected remains at 11¢.

Why do some ponding basins have grass and trees and others don't?

The District has a longstanding partnership with Tree Fresno to plant trees in ponding basins in the Fresno/Clovis area. The volunteer coordination and planting expertise are provided by Tree Fresno and the trees, site grading, irrigation system, and turf are put in by the District. The most recent plantings occurred at basins located at Peach and Ashlan, Nielsen and Teilman, and Chestnut and Shepherd. The results speak for themselves.

Improvements the District provides are funded out of accounts specific to each of the more than 160 drainage areas within the District boundaries. The money comes from property taxes collected within the drainage area and from fees assessed on development that occurs in the drainage area. The top priority for spending that money is installation of needed curb inlets, storm drain pipeline, and excavation of the basin to which the pipeline drains, in order to provide protection from localized flooding. When there are enough funds in a drainage area's account to allow landscaping, the District and Tree Fresno partner up to beautify the basin.

Not all drainage areas can be landscaped because the amount of property taxes and development fees collected varies widely. Property values and the amount of building taking place determine the availability of money for basin landscaping.