Prescott Declares State of Emergency as Floodwaters Overtop Watson Lake Dam

Prescott Mayor Cathey Rusing has declared a state of emergency after days of heavy, continuous rainfall caused significant flooding across the city and water spilled over the top of Watson Lake Dam on Sunday.

The city opened its Emergency Operations Center at 8 a.m. and is directing the response across all municipal departments. Officials are also working with Yavapai County and the state of Arizona.

Watson Lake Dam, also called Granite Dam, is rated to handle water flowing as much as 10 feet over its top, and city officials said they are continuously watching it for structural problems. Inflow to Watson Lake peaked at more than 4,000 cubic feet per second. Officials said saturated ground, particularly in the mountains, produced two to three times the usual runoff. Flows have since fallen to roughly 1,680 cubic feet per second.

Elsewhere, Upper Goldwater Reservoir has also topped, and the city is closely monitoring Lower Goldwater Reservoir. Willow Lake Dam sits 7.5 feet below its spillway, and the city reports no structural concerns there. Ahead of the storms, Public Works opened Watson Lake's 36-inch release valve and the crosscut channel to Willow Lake, which lowered the reservoir and created room for incoming stormwater.

The National Weather Service had issued a Flood Watch for Yavapai County on Thursday, Oct. 29, covering Saturday evening through late Sunday night. It warned of flash flooding from heavy rain falling on already saturated ground.

All low water crossings in the city are closed. Road closures include Sixth Street, Sonora Drive at Campbell Street, South Granite Street between West Aubrey and West Leroux streets, Walden Road off White Spar Road, and Brannen Avenue at Miller Valley Road. Granite Creek Park is closed as well. Several traffic signals lost power during the day, and drivers should treat any dark signal as a four-way stop and use caution.

Sand and sandbags are available at three fire stations: White Spar Fire Station at 333 White Spar Road, Airport Fire Station at 1980 Club House Drive, and CAFMA Fire Station 51 at 1700 Iron Springs Road, at Iron Springs and Williamson Valley roads. Residents must bring their own shovels and fill their own bags.

Yavapai County and the American Red Cross have opened a shelter for people displaced by floodwater at the Yavapai College Prescott Campus Gymnasium, 1100 E. Sheldon. Anyone facing a life-threatening emergency should call 911. For non-emergency flood questions, residents can reach the Yavapai County Emergency Management phone bank at 928-442-5103.