Runoff floodwaters continued to affect areas around Flagstaff on Tuesday, with warmer weather continuing as leftover snow from winter melted in the area.
The National Weather Service website says Tuesday will likely be the warmest day of the week, with temperatures 10 to 15 degrees above normal, with a high of 72 degrees in Flagstaff.
Temperatures are expected to drop slightly on Wednesday and Thursday with stronger winds (30-35 mph, 66 degrees max on Wednesday; 35-40 mph, 55 degrees max gusts on Thursday). increase).
According to a city press release, the spill flooded the Schultz Creek reservoir Monday night. The reservoir will be built in the fall of 2022 by him to mitigate flooding after pipeline fires. Combined, the reservoir can hold more than 18 million gallons of water. That’s the equivalent of 28 Olympic swimming pools.
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Water from the flooding basin is expected to travel across the Schultz Creek culvert on Highway 180 and toward Rio de Flagg, according to a statement Tuesday. This could affect the Coconino Estate, an area that has seen multiple post-fire floods last summer, the release said, but residents of those areas were forced to make pipes last summer. It does not suggest taking mitigation measures beyond those recommended in response to line fires.
“It should be noted that the Schultz Creek Reservoir is fully functional and has been designed to allow safe overflow of water while allowing debris and sediment to settle within the reservoir. please,” it said.
On Tuesday, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) said it was working to repair damage to the Schultz Creek culvert and that the previous debris blockage was no longer in place.
Fire Station No. 5, along the same road, was also affected by the spill, with the front entrance and surrounding sidewalks closed due to damage. The city said the fire station is operating normally, but exits through a second entrance.
The thaw continues to affect other parts of the city. The city specifically noted that the Cheshire floods are from the Mesa Observatory and may continue along temperate climates, rather than along watersheds.
Self-filling sandbags (and a “limited supply of premade sandbags”) are available at Thorpe Park off Azteca Street (by the softball field) and at the Coconino County Health and Welfare Building (2625 N. King Street). increase.
“Use sandbags only near the doors and windows of your home and do not place them around property lines as they can negatively impact neighboring homes,” the release states.
The Rio de Flag spans Herold Ranch Road near the Little America Hotel. The river is usually dry, but since early March, the roads have been flooded.
According to resident Jenn Kotalik, the water has dried up and run over the past month, and is between seven inches and three feet deep.
Kotalik, who has lived on the other side of the road for more than 20 years, said he had never seen flooding of such magnitude or duration. The road is now under 2 feet of water (some have 3 holes) and has been since April 3rd.
With this level of flooding, even cars and SUVs cannot cross the Rio, so residents park their cars on the side of the road and ride with neighbors who have trucks raised high enough to cross. increase. Nearby River Valley Road is completely submerged, and some residents are finding creative ways to get to work.
For Forest Dale residents behind Herold Ranch Road, walking is the only way to get in and out of the area, Kotarik said. For example, you must arrive on time. So people keep crossing the water.
“There are signs on either side of the river that say ‘Do not enter when flooded.’ Of course there are new teenage drivers, people who live there. We can,” said Kotalik. She is getting her ride from her friend who has her lifted truck.
“It’s great to see people trying to help each other. …In the circumstances we’re in, it’s clear that residents past Herold Ranch Road need alternative access.” said Kotalik.
Ed Farnham, who has lived in Forest Dale for about 30 years, said the last time he saw floods like this was in 2005, when the “Super Pineapple Express” brought heavy spring rains to the area. When the depth gauge was installed, the water on the road was sometimes four feet deep, he said.
“It melted all the snow and rain, and the river in my memory was three or four feet deep for quite some time. Both Lake Marys and Walnut Canyon ran for months,” he said. rice field.
Thaws, monsoon rains, or other weather conditions usually flood the roads a few times a year, but rarely as deep as they are now.
“It’s definitely the longest, longest thing we’ve seen in quite some time,” he said. “…on and off for weeks.”
Farnham has trucks with lifts, so transport is no problem in water down to a foot and a half. When that happens, they try to wait out the flood. There used to be a forest road offering an alternative route, but it is now behind a locked gate.
Both Farnam and Kotalik said JW Powell’s expansion project could have prevented the neighborhood’s recent access problems.
The project initially included improvements to Herold Ranch Road to prevent flooding from making the road impassable, they said. The City Council approved the alternative in July 2022 and is currently considering it.
