Arizona Daily Star from Tucson, Arizona • Page 4

I' I' FIRST EDITION i BEST AVAILABLE COPY Section A -i- Page Fifteen Tucson, Thursday, September 25, 1997 QJjr Arizona Hailu lar Swollen Gila River infuses new life into San Carlos Lake fearing that when it reached 30,000 to 50,000 acre-feet, fish, would begin dying. That has yet to happen. On Tuesday, tribal officials said readings showed the lake's level at 41,250 acre-feet, up slightly from the day before. Keene said that as of yesterday, the Gila River was pumping about 14,000 cubic feet of water per second. This summer, the rate was around 4,000.

Combining the CAP aid, the Gila River flood-waters and expected heavy rain from Hurricane Nora, state water engineers predict the lake water may increase by 10,000 acre-feet, Keene said. The last time the lake dried up was in 1966-67. The lake got so low and fish populations so compressed that anglers in aluminum boats could strike the sides of their boats with oars and have bass jump into the boat, By Patrick Graham The Associated Press i Thanks to thunderstorms in western New Mexico, fears that San Carlos Lake may dry up this year are evaporating. i For the first time in several months, the lake's level is rising, fed by a swollen Gila River. The New Mexico thunderstorms on Sunday almost brought the river to flood stage.

But the flood threat subsided Tuesday, and all that runoff has been moving downstream and slowly pumping new life into the endangered lake on the San Carlos Apache Reservation. I And the Central Arizona lake about 70 miles east of Phoenix could get another lifesaving boost should anticipated heavy rains from Hurricane Nora hit Southern Arizona today or tomorrow. This is good news for the tribe, which makes money off the anglers who fish the lake, and farmers who use the lake water for irrigation. The man-made lake also supports several species of threatened birds, including a mating pair of bald eagles. San Carlos also is considered one of the top Arizona lakes for bass, crappie and catfish.

"It appears we're over the hump," said Rich Dent, the Bureau of Reclamation's manager of Native American affairs for Arizona. The Arizona Department of Water Resources said yesterday that the lake's livelihood looks good for the rest of the year. "It's the first time in months that the water level has been elevated," said Joanne Keene, a department spokeswoman. This spring, federal, state and tribal officials announced that the popular lake was drying up and fast. Trouble began for the lake with little winter snow, because the lake gets most of its water from snow melt coming down the Gila River.

San Carlos' watershed includes the Alpine area of the White Mountains and mountains in western New Mexico. Alpine didn't have a heavy snow and western New Mexico had almost none. And this year's monsoon rains had no impact on lake levels. To provide irrigation water for farmers and to prevent them from drawing any more water out of the lake, the Central Arizona Project has sent two loads of Colorado River water to farmers who otherwise would use San Carlos Lake water. But before Sunday's rains, officials said the CAP water still wouldn't be enough to get farmers through the fall planting season.

Biologists are anxious about the lake's fate, i i I State mm Threat of Nora's fury a reminder of Octave rtuVM I iti" Ii 1 Ml, 1 iSffiiilK lilMt'H i 1 1 I i 1 i I i i i 1 i WILL, i rt By Angelica Pence The Arizona Daily Star 3 Hurricane Nora is likely to pack a pounding tropical punch before it leaves the Old Pueblo but hurricane-related and tropical storms are nothing new to the city. Most never did any great harm. Longtime residents may recall tropical storm Octave, which swept into town on September 29, 1983, with 32 mph winds, dumping 6.71 inches of rain before it dissipated on October 3, af .1 a v. I I v' and 10 mph winds. Norma September 1970, 2.52 inches of rain and 11 mph winds.

Glenda September 1969, 0.06 inches of rain and 11 mph winds. Katrina August and September 1967, 0.11 inches of rain and 22 mph winds. Hazel September 1965, no recorded rain and 15 mph winds. Katherine September 1963, just a trace of rain and 26 mph winds. Diana August 1960, no recorded rain or wind speeds.

Charlie August 1951, 0.62 inches of rain and no recorded wind speeds. Other storms, such as the winter storm that flooded homes in Marana four years ago, may have left behind large amounts of moisture but were not considered tropical storms because of the time of year they arrived and where they originated, said Andy Bryant, a weather service hydrol-ogist in Tucson. "There may very well have been weather storms more recent than 1983," Bryant said. "But these particular storms began as hurricanes in the Pacific (Ocean) and were tracked bringing moisture in Arizona. "Sometimes, the storms themselves don't make it up here but they send their moisture up here." Sarah Prall, Tne Arizona Daily Star Alex Alcantar, one of the owners of Ado- ness in the monsoon season.

Surge TV, 5041 E. Fifth organizes video- tors help, but nothing will stop the electri-cassette recorders repaired after lightning cal current blasting into appliances if light-damage. The store does a booming busi- ning strikes. It's best to unplug appliances. RIDING THE STORM OUT according to National Weather Service records.

The storm, combined with earlier rainfall in August, triggered regional flooding that caused $226 million in damage to southeastern Arizona. Other hurricane-related or tropical storms to visit Tucson in the 46 years since the weather service has been keeping detailed records include: Heather October 1977, 2.17 inches of rain and 20 mph winds. Doreen August 1977, 0.62 inches of rain and 32 mph winds. Kathleen September 1976, 0.04 inches of rain and 30 mph winds. Joanne October 1972, 1.60 inches of rain and 20 mph winds.

Hyacinth August and September 1972, 1.72 inches of rain Experts say state's reservoirs can withstand rivers' flooding Continued from Page One public safety and transportation. She appointed Steve Jewett, who runs her Tucson office, as the liaison for storm tracking activities. Mike Austin, director of emergency affairs, told Hull and others on the council that the state was prepared for the storm and had already begun distributing sand bags in Yuma and Mohave counties. Sandbagging machines were operating in Tucson, Prescott, Yuma and Cochise County, he said. Some of the most serious areas of concern, Austin said, are along washes that feed into the Colorado River.

Several areas near Bullhead City and Littleficld, which actually sits on the Virgin River, could see serious flooding. Officials are also watching areas at the base of the Mogollon Rim, such as Prescott and Oak Creek Canyon, where rainfall could be particularly heavy, Austin said. Other potential problems could develop in Navajo and Greenlee counties, where residents have reported water already running in washes, and alon the San Pedro, Santa Cruz, Upper Gila, Blue and San Francisco rivers, Austin said. Tony Haffer, meteorologist-in-charge of the National Weather Service in Phoenix, said he saw two bulls-eyes in Nora's path: Yuma, where 4-5 inches of rain is expected, and Prescott, where storm totals could top 4 inches. "These tropical storms have a lot of moisture in them," he said.

"We certainly should be concerned. But I don't think there's cause for over-alarm." Haffer said how much damage the former Nora leaves in her wake depends on her speed through the state. "If she picks up speed and moves rapidly, the rainfall totals could be less," he said. "If she moves slower, those totals could be too low and the storm could be more widespread." Nora is not the first hurricane to direct her power on Arizona. Joanne dumped more than 4 inches of rain across the state along a band from Yuma to Durango, in October 1972.

In September 1970, Kathleen unleashed furious winds, which gusted to 76 mph in Yuma. One person was killed in Yuma by a tree blown down by the winds. Kathleen left about 5 inches of rain in Mohave County. Stay tuned to hear if there is school Amphitheater and Tucson unified school districts will notify local television and radio stations of any closures by 5:30 a.m. today.

District officials are asking parents to avoid calling the schools to find out if classes will be in session. TUSD says parents should assume classes will proceed unless they hear differently. Sunnyside Unified School District also will keep the media informed of any updates. Parents can call these numbers: Sunnyside's Public Relations 741-2500 extension 516 or 517. KGUN-9 Parent Teacher Hotline 751-1 100 category 21442.

fresh batteries. Foods that don't require cooking and a manual can opener. Fresh drinking water. Residents should make an emergency evacuation plan ahead of time that includes details on how to communicate with each other during school and work hours. To be prepared for evacuation, people should: Keep a full tank of gas in all vehicles.

Identify primary and alternate routes out of the area. Lock the house and turn off utilities when leaving. Take personal essentials, for example, all medications. Leave as early into the storm as possible. Flood waters rise rapidly and may block the route.

Never bypass a barricade to enter a flooded wash or stream bed. Take a gallon of water per person per day, enough for three days. Have on hand credit cards and cash, a change of clothing and blankets. Sources: Pima County Health Department, American Red Cross, Tucson Electric Power Co. and Northwest Fire District.

Tucson Electric Power Co. urges residents to stay away from downed power lines. To report a downed line, call the company's 24-hour emergency line at 623-3451. Residents should have a battery-operated radio, alarm clock, flashlight, spare batteries and non-perishable foods on hand in the event of power outages. To report an outage, call 623-7711.

Other tips: Check the fuses or circuit box to determine if the outage is isolated to your location. Unplug or turn off appliances to avoid a power surge when service is restored. Unplug voltage-sensitive appliances, such as computers and electronic equipment. Leave a light on so you know when power is restored. Refrain from opening refrigerators or freezers.

If the refrigerator is above 40 degrees Fahrenheit after electrical power is restored, or if the food is warm, do not eat any foods that spoil quickly. Residents should have these items readily available: A first aid kit in the house and in each vehicle. A flashlight, a battery-operated radio and According to Zickus and Dallas Reigle of the Salt River Project, reservoir levels yesterday were: San Carlos Lake (Gila River), between 5 and 10 percent of capacity. Roosevelt Lake (Salt River), 17 percent. Apache, Canyon and Saguaro Lakes (Salt River), 95 percent.

Bartlett Lake (Verde River), 65 percent. Horseshoe Lake (Verde River), 20 percent. Painted Rock Reservoir (Gila River), empty. Alamo Dam (Bill Williams River), about 7 to 10 percent. The Associated Press Though Arizona readied itself yesterday for potentially torrential rains in the aftermath of Hurricane Nora, hydrology experts said the state's reservoirs were in good shape to withstand river flooding.

Unlike in 1993, when most of the reservoirs were dangerously full and contributed to heavy flooding through much of the state, the system of lakes and flood control structures is nowhere near capacity as the remnants of Nora moved to Arizona's doorstep, said Tom Zickus, a National Weather Service hydrolo-gist in Phoenix. Fear of floods brings run on sandbags Blowhard expected to hit Rocky Point by about noon. The main threat, once Nora hits land, expected to 1k heavy rain. Tucson still could receive anywhere from 1 to 4 inches, with Sells drawing 2 to 4 inches, Meyer said. Drivers on Interstate 8 can expect visibility trouble, with heavy rain and winds up to 45 mph.

he said. But the next few days could be just a test for Tucson. "El Nino, which is in effect now, has made conditions a little more favorable for hurricanes to hold together farther north than they usually do," Meyer said. "I wouldn't be surprised to lie staring down another hurricane or tropical cyclone before the end of the year which would make Nora a practice run." Home Depot sells sand in 80-pound heavy paper bags like those used for cement, he said. "We're sold out," said Donna Abernathy, who works in the gardening department at the Home Depot at 1155 Irvington Road.

"We ran out more than three weeks ago." In Marana, sand will be available to residents who want to fill their own sandbags. Town public works crews filled bags by hand yesterday a practice that will continue through Nora's rains, said Public Works Director David Atler. But the flood-prone town plans to buy an 58,500 machine that fills 3,000 bags an hour, he said. For a cheap, short-term sandbag, people can use plastic trash bags, said Mike Walsh, coordinator of Pima County's Office of Emergency Management. "We recommend not the 50-gallon or 30-gallon size, but the smaller kitchen trash bag," he said.

bought 1.000 bags to take to Sells and we promised them another 500 (today)." Canady said. "Davis-Monthan (Air Force Base) bought 3.000." D-M did not buy the sandbags because of Nora, said Lt. Mark Martin, from the 355th Wing's public affairs office. They are used for training exercises at the base, he said. Sandbag sales also were straining employees at Barricade and Light Rental.

W. Ruth-rauff Road. aid office manager Brian Majuta. The company had sold nearly 7,000 bags, some of them with sand, by the close of business yesterday, he said. Barricade and Light had 3.000 bags left and -could get more from its Phoenix yard, he said.

Kenny Ripley of the Home Depot at 1755 N. Oracle Road said it turned away dozens of requests for sandbags but was doing a brisk business in sand sales and hoped to have bags today. By Keith Bagwell The Arizona Daily Star What do you do when you're told Hurricane Nora is roaring at you to dump its oceans of rain? Buy sandbags to protect your flood-prone property. In Tucson, two barricade and sign companies reported a frantic run on canvass sandbags this week as residents braied for the possible deluge. Business was intense at StarLite Barricade.

4310 S. Santa Rita as customers bought more than 18.000 of 22,000 sandbags without sand the company had available, said saleswoman Dorothy Canady. With only 4.000 on hand at closing yesterday, the company planned to bring 5.000 more bags from its PhoenLx yard for today's 7 a.m. opening, she said. People living near the Santa Cruz and Rillito rivers and urban-area washes were customers.

They also came from as far away as Sells in the Tohono O'odham Indian Nation, about GO miles west of Tucson, she said. "The Bureau of Indian Affairs Continued from Page One bringing rain and causing some flooding, he said. Where predictions early yesterday placed the storm's next move west of Yuma by 50 to 70 miles, the revised path had it passing directly over the southwestern Arizona city's center, then curving past Phoenix to as far north as Flagstaff, Meyer said. "What we really want folks to know is, we're just not sure," he said. Still, the weather service, planned to issue a 24-hour flash flood watch for Yuma and western Pima counties no later than 5 a.m.

today. As of last night, Nora was Sonora cops arrest 2 carrying a fortune The officers spotted 216 pack ages containing 1.5-1 million in U.S. currency in the truck's cab. The Associated Press Federal officers seized more than S1.5 million in cash from a speeding truck in Sonora, police said yesterday. Patrolmen stopped the truck for speeding on Highway 15.

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