flooding

The Forest Service is reviewing several Coconino County proposals designed to reduce post-fire flood impact in the Flagstaff area.

The proposals seek to minimize private land damage and protect watershed resources and will target areas within or directly adjacent to the 2022 Tunnel and Pipeline burn scars.

Some of these areas, adjacent to both private land and City of Flagstaff land, were previously analyzed and approved for post-fire flood structures after the 2010 Schultz Fire.

Members of the public wishing to learn more about private flood insurance and FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program, as well as other post-wildfire flooding resources, are invited to a free online webinar on Monday, August 22, 2022 at 6:30 p.m.

Today Governor Doug Ducey declared a State of Emergency in Coconino County in response to monsoon storms that began July 23 and triggered flooding. The flood conditions were compounded by ongoing rainfall and saturated grounds of several recent and historical burn scars.

“We are ready to support Coconino County through the response and recovery process,” said Maj. Gen. Kerry Muehlenbeck, Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs Director. “Meeting the needs of impacted communities requires an agency-wide effort from our citizen soldiers, airmen and civilian staff.”

As monsoon rains set in, the potential for flash flooding and debris flows in the Mangum Fire area intensifies and forest roads may be closed as a result. Throughout the 2021 monsoon, the following forest roads, in the vicinity of and including Forest Road 22, were temporarily closed due to flash flooding and debris flow damage and could see potential closures again during the 2022 monsoon:

Coconino County’s Flood Control District, in partnership with the United Way of Northern Arizona, are once again making an urgent request for volunteers to help fill and place sandbags to mitigate the serious threat of post-wildfire flooding threatening homes in the Timberline, Wupatki Trails, Fernwood and Doney Park areas.

A portion of the Coconino National Forest surrounding Sycamore Creek will temporarily close at 6 a.m. Saturday due to an increased risk of flash flooding.

The closure area includes Parsons Trailhead, Parsons Trail north (including Parson's Spring), and the confluence of Sycamore Creek and the Verde River.

Forest Service Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) specialists recently completed their field data evaluation to produce the Soil Burn Severity (SBS) map for the Pipeline Fire, which delineate unburned, low, moderate, and high SBS categories.

The  Coconino County Flood Control District (District) has set up several sandbag stations in the Pipeline Fire Area for residents to install around their homes in preparation of post-wildfire flooding.

Sandbags and sandbag materials are currently available at the Copeland Detention Basin, the entrance of which is located just off of Hwy 89 at Copeland Lane.

The Copeland Detention Basin has both a self-serve sandbag station and pre-made sandbags. The self-serve station includes empty sandbags and fill material.