San Juan River crests at 31 feet while sewage leaks compound Four Corners flood damage
One person died in Santa Fe during a vehicle rescue, and officials in New Mexico and Utah warn that contaminated water and broken gas lines remain dangerous as rain continues.
By Isabella Vega ·
The San Juan River reached a 31-foot crest on Monday, pushing water into homes across the Four Corners region while officials warn that raw sewage and chemicals are mixing with the floodwaters. The National Weather Service confirmed the river was 1.5 feet above the 23-foot flood stage earlier in the day and predicted it would drop below that level by Tuesday morning.
The surge was driven by two months of heavy rainfall, which has saturated the ground and overwhelmed drainage systems in Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. The current water level is close to the record high of 32 feet set in 1927. Forecasters attribute the excessive rain to El Niño, a temporary warming pattern in the Pacific Ocean.
One death was confirmed in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Saturday. The county sheriff’s office said a family attempted to cross a flooded arroyo in their vehicle. A father and child escaped to land, but a female passenger was swept away and found dead a mile downstream.
In Bluff, Utah, residents evacuated over the weekend were allowed to return to their homes early Monday. County officials urged caution because several properties remained underwater. The weather service specifically warned the public to stay out of the river due to the risk of sewage contamination.
Damage in the Farmington area of New Mexico is extensive. Local officials reported that swollen rivers are receding, but many residents are still displaced and hundreds have lost power. San Juan County spokesperson Devin Neeley told The Associated Press that officials do not yet have official figures on the number of damaged homes or evacuations. He described the area as an active disaster zone.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Major General Miguel Aguilar of the New Mexico National Guard traveled to San Juan County on Monday to inspect the damage and meet with residents. In the Shiprock area of the Navajo Nation, the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority reported that wastewater facilities and water holding ponds were damaged, releasing sewage into the San Juan River.
San Juan County Fire & Rescue Chief David Vega acknowledged at a news conference on Sunday that the public is eager to return to their homes. He cautioned that hazards remain, including broken gas and propane lines and contaminated water. Undersheriff Cory Tanner said officers are conducting house-to-house checks for these dangers, a process that could take several days.
Zach and Abigail Flatt received evacuation orders on their phones on Thursday evening. Their home in Bloomfield, New Mexico, sits directly on the river. Zach Flatt recalled that the water level jumped four feet in 30 to 40 minutes. He said the family loaded their two young children into their car as water came up over the tires. They stayed in a hotel and watched via webcams as at least 18 inches of water covered their property, washing away 22 of their 24 chickens.
New Mexico’s congressional delegation urged President Donald Trump on Sunday to declare a state of emergency to release federal assistance funding. In Colorado, teams are creating maps to identify affected roads, closures, and evacuation zones. The region has experienced on-and-off heavy rain for two months after a period of drought, with previous deadly flooding striking the Grand Canyon and other parts of New Mexico.
The flood warning remains in effect for parts of the region. Officials continue to monitor water levels and assess structural damage. The next scheduled update on the river’s status is expected as it falls below flood stage on Tuesday.
Source: ABC News
