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Low lying flooding a concern in Flagstaff as warm weather drives spring runoff

Flagstaff neighborhoods are once again seeing flooding as 70 degree temperatures melt the last of record-breaking snows across northern Arizona.

Area lakes that haven’t seen this much water in years are full in Flagstaff. But some detention basins are also at 100%.

A levee on Lower Lake Mary breached earlier this week and while that is being watched, spring runoff is also flooding some lower lying roads. Ray Garcia is deputy director of Coconino County’s public works. 

"Back in the 80s and 70s, this was fairly common but our current demographic is not used to this much snow melting at this time of year," he said.

The breached levee forced a partial closure of lower Lake Mary. 

Coconino National Forest spokesman Brady Smith said, "this is probably the fullest we’ve seen it in definitely over a decade."

Smith said there are no buildings threatened by the breach.

Fronteras Desk senior editor Michel Marizco is an award-winning investigative reporter based in Flagstaff.