By admin 
FLAGSTAFF, AZ (AZFamily) — The arrival of monsoon season raises concerns about post-wildfire flooding in two areas of Arizona’s high country.
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Oak Creek Canyon was burned by the Pocket Fire, and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon was affected by last year’s Dragon Bravo Fire.
Flash flooding in post-fire areas carries additional hazards, including rocks, ash and debris carried by runoff.
Oak Creek Canyon at risk after Pocket Fire
Andrew Sanchez Meador, executive director of the Ecological Restoration Institute at Northern Arizona University, said Oak Creek Canyon could be at risk for flooding following the Pocket Fire. However, the full severity of the burn has not yet been determined.
“With that water runoff, we see rocks and ash and debris in them,” Sanchez Meador said. “So that overland flow post-fire is the primary concern.”
He said the extent of high-severity burning and terrain are key factors in flood risk.
“We do know that large areas of contiguous burned high severity pose the biggest problem,” Sanchez Meador said. “If those areas are on steep slopes, that poses another problem.”
Grand Canyon installs flood gauges ahead of monsoon
At the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, park officials said they are hoping for rain, but not an excess of it. A moderate amount of rainfall could clear debris from popular hiking trails without creating dangerous conditions.
Hannah Chanless, a hydrologist at Grand Canyon National Park, said trails such as the North Kaibab are at risk for flooding because of where the Dragon Bravo Fire burned below the rim.
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“There’s a lot of hydrophobic soil that’s sitting there waiting to be flushed off,” Chanless said.
The park partnered with the U.S. Geological Survey to install flood gauges that provide real-time warnings when water levels rise in the canyon.
“So if any flood event or rain event happens, we can see it as it’s happening and then provide warnings to the folks down in the canyon,” Chanless said.
Chanless said the goal is not to discourage hiking but to ensure visitors are prepared.
“Especially during monsoon season when flash flooding is possible,” Chanless said. “It can happen really quickly and just knowing that’s a possibility.”
Park officials advise hikers to sign up for weather alerts and review the park’s warning and preparation page before any inner canyon hike.
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