Last year, heavy rains and mud left a mess throughout Tusayan following a violent monsoon storm. Just two inches of rain caused 3 feet of water to build up and rush through the town.
Using a $2.4 million grant, the town, Arizona’s Department of Transportation and Coconino County will create a drainage project to keep the water moving.
Lucinda Andreani, the county’s flood control director, told the county board that flood modeling predicted a large storm could push 10,000 cubic feet of water per second through Tusayan.
"Which is comparable to the Grand Canyon Colorado River at Lee’s Ferry. So significant potential impact," she said.
The plan is intended to reduce flood impacts not only to the town but to Highway 64 leading to the Grand Canyon.
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