PIPE SPRING Cultures at a Crossroads: An Administrative History

Floods

Over the years, Heaton learned that he could sometimes avoid monument floods by "working" with the heavy rainstorms. His technique was to keep a close eye on what was happening and to immediately clear out the drainage culverts when they started to clog up with debris washed into them during a downpour. Through such attentiveness, he avoided floods that might have resulted from two heavy rains in early August 1951. No doubt the 1948 addition of a larger culvert and reworking of the drainage system also helped prevent monument flooding.

On September 12, 1954, a hailstorm and heavy rain brought floods that covered the campground and washed out roads to Moccasin, Fredonia, and Hurricane. All roads leading to the monument were washed out leaving 15 people stranded at the monument. It was not until about 11:00 a.m. on the 13th that travel could resume. Some damage was done at the campground where floods ran over the banks of the wash depositing sand and debris. Most damage took place at Kaibab Village, where the storm was heaviest. [1608] The following day Heaton helped to get the storm-damaged road open for travel, using hand tools.