Prescott Floods Force Emergency Declaration

Residents in Prescott, Arizona, face closed roads and a declared state of emergency following a weekend of heavy rainfall. The deluge caused Watson Lake Dam to overtop on Sunday, prompting Mayor Cathey Rusing to activate the city’s Emergency Operations Center at 8 a.m.

City officials report that water flowing into Watson Lake peaked at more than 4,000 cubic feet per second. This volume exceeded normal levels because saturated ground in the surrounding mountains produced two to three times the typical runoff. Flows have since dropped to approximately 1,680 cubic feet per second. Officials noted that the dam is rated to handle water flowing up to 10 feet over the top, and they are currently monitoring the structure for any concerns.

Before the storms arrived, the Public Works Department proactively opened a 36-inch release valve at Watson Lake and a crosscut channel to Willow Lake. This action lowered the reservoir levels to create capacity for the incoming stormwater. While Upper Goldwater Reservoir also topped, the city is closely watching Lower Goldwater Reservoir. Willow Lake Dam remains stable, sitting 7.5 feet below its spillway with no reported structural issues.

The National Weather Service issued a Flood Watch for Yavapai County on October 29. The warning remained in effect from Saturday evening through late Sunday night, alerting the public to flash flooding risks caused by heavy rain falling on already wet ground. The city is coordinating its response with Yavapai County and the state of Arizona to manage the situation.

All low water crossings in the city are closed to traffic. Specific road closures include Sixth Street, Sonora Drive at Campbell Street, and South Granite Street between West Aubrey Street and West Leroux Street. Drivers are advised to treat any non-functional traffic signals as four-way stops. Granite Creek Park is also closed to the public due to the flooding.

Yavapai County and the American Red Cross have opened a shelter for displaced residents at the Yavapai College Prescott Campus Gymnasium. The facility is located at 1100 E. Sheldon in Prescott. For life-threatening emergencies, residents should call 911. Non-emergency flood inquiries can be directed to the Yavapai County Emergency Management phone bank at 928-442-5103.

Sand and sandbags are available at three local fire stations for residents to use. These locations include the White Spar Fire Station, the Airport Fire Station, and CAFMA Fire Station 51. Residents must bring their own shovels to fill the bags at these distribution points.