Throughout this monsoon season, Flagstaff and other areas of northern Arizona have seen heavy rain and flooding.

Officials from Flagstaff and Coconino County, as well as engineers and flood control specialists, met last week to discuss ways to reduce the severity of future floods.

One suggestion from city and county officials is forest and watershed restoration, which could allow nearby forests to hold more water during monsoon season.

Coconino County Deputy Manager Lucinda Andreani says multiple projects may still be in conceptual stages, but time is of the essence.

“People are suffering. There are tremendous impacts in the communities affected by this flooding, and this all needs to be done as rapidly as we can,” said Andreani

Andreani says the mitigation projects could cost tens of millions of dollars. 

Other proposed measures include large detention basins that catch debris and control stormwater runoff, and widening nearby channels to increase water capacity.