The winter of 2018-19 was an historic one for wet weather in the Verde Valley. Rainfall came at levels rarely seen in recent decades, and the Verde River rushed at nearly unprecedented flow. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the flooding peaked on Feb. 15 with a flow of 49,800 cubic feet per second, more than 50 times the median water flow on the river, based on 40 years of records. The Clarkdale Dam was breached upriver.
The historic flooding also damaged irrigation in Camp Verde. The diversion dam near Jackpot Ranch that normally funnels water into the Verde Ditch was breached in February, as was the irrigation ditch itself.
“Our diversion dam in the Verde River and our primary ditch that supplies water to the Verde Ditch sustained severe damage,” the Verde Ditch Company wrote in a message to shareholders on the website. “Mobilizing heavy equipment to make the necessary repairs is not possible at this time. The VDC Commissioners and a local contractor are regularly monitoring the damaged areas and access to the multiple sites and will start the repairs as soon as possible. It is uncertain when we will be able to supply water to our Shareholders; however, we are currently projecting a possible start date of mid-April. Thank you for your patience.”
For the commissioners, this round of repairs comes at a frustrating moment — according to District One Commissioner Al Dupuy, the VDC had spent $18,000 on repairs just last year, in addition to $35,000 on the dam six years before, only to see their work destroyed with this round of flooding. Dupuy could not give a specific number on the costs of repairs so far, but said he believes it is less expensive than last year’s work.
“All the years I’ve been on the ditch, I’ve never seen that happen to that extent,” Dupuy said.
Dupuy said that, as the water has started to subside, they have been able to make the repairs to the ditch itself, though not yet the dam. With the flow continuing to be so high, the water is still flowing into the ditch as if the dam were there to divert it, but the VDC hopes to repair the dam quickly after the water flow subsides in order to limit the interruption of water flow to VDC’s shareholders.
“I, as a commissioner, try to be sensitive to those who make a living based on the amount of water they can get,” Dupuy said, highlighting specifically the ranchers who need to be able to feed their livestock off of grass irrigated by the ditch. According to Dupuy, the Verde Ditch provides water for all five uses specified by the Arizona Department of Water Resources — domestic/municipal, irrigation, power and mining, recreation and wildlife and storage.
“As soon as we feel we can get equipment in there safely, then [a contractor] is going to go ahead and schedule it and we’re going to get whatever equipment we need,” Dupuy said.
