Coconino and Kaibab National forests implement fire restrictions Wednesday.

Santa Fe reservoir dropping rapidly. - NAG 05/17

Santa Fe reservoir dropping rapidly. – NAG 05/17

WILLIAMS—While the Santa Fe reservoir may look full from the dam side, a look at the other end tells a different story. Santa Fe and Buckskinner reservoirs filled up after the snow fall of the winter, but Kaibab and Dogtown lakes did not fill even close to capacity. With spring only half over, Santa Fe is already rapidly dropping to low-level.

This situation, of course, leads to the inevitable fire restrictions in the Coconino and Kaibab forests. The forest service will be implementing fire restrictions starting Wednesday, the 22nd. The dry, warm, windy conditions forecast over the Memorial Day weekend are likely to cause Red Flag warning conditions.

Under the restrictions, fires, campfires, charcoal, coal and wood stoves are allowed in developed campgrounds only. The restrictions also limit smoking to within enclosed vehicles or buildings or in developed campgrounds. Using a device that is solely fueled by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off is allowed in areas that are clear of flammable materials.

Visitors to the area are reminded that they are subject to heavy fines or even arrest for ejecting cigarette butts from a vehicle and are encouraged to use the car ash tray. The Williams Visitors Center offers pocket ash trays that smokers can carry with them in town, but they are not authorized for use in the forest as a substitute for common sense.

Fire restrictions will be in effect until the area receives significant precipitation. That is not likely to occur unless the area receives heavy monsoon rains which usually occur around the beginning of July.

Are Williams water woes washing away?

Kaibab Lake - 2012

Kaibab Lake – 2012

WILLIAMS—Last year, Williams experienced a terrible time with weather. In this case, that means less snow than usual. The Santa Fe and Buckskinner reservoirs drained considerably. The last two-years have been drier than usual, in fact.

This year two heavy snows seemed to have been helpful to the northern Arizona community in recovering from their water woes. At least for this year.

Ice forming on Santa Fe dam.

Ice forming on Santa Fe dam.

Santa Fe dam spilled over on March 13th, but stopped flowing at least as of last Friday. Today we caught some photos of ice formations on the dam indicating the freezing temperatures Williams still receives at night.

Over the hill, the dam at Buckskinner park started spilling over which is good news for the city. Buckskinner park opened for vehicle traffic today.

The old dam has been spilling over filling both ponds and creating a frog haven. This area has been dry the last two years.

On the fourteenth, Dogtown and Kaibab lakes were filling, but neither were to capacity. Ducks, however, took advantage of the rising lake by swimming in areas which, last year, were completely dry.

There is snow yet to melt and Williams residents know that they can expect snow through May. The current long range forecast, in fact, shows a chance of rain Friday and the possibility of snow above 6800 feet on Monday. Lows at night are expected to be in the lower 30s with temperatures rising to the lower 60s throughout the rest of the week.