Floodwaters Recede in Four Corners, Leaving Damaged Homes and Sewage Concerns

Flood warnings persisted in parts of the Four Corners region Monday as residents returned to saturated neighborhoods to assess damage and contend with waters potentially tainted by chemicals and raw sewage.

Excessive rainfall since Wednesday has caused rivers to surge across the region, where Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico meet. The storms also spawned a tornado that touched down in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Saturday night.

One death related to the flooding was reported in Santa Fe on Saturday. A family attempting to cross a flooded arroyo in their vehicle required a water rescue. A father and child were able to reach safety, but a female passenger was swept away by the current and later found deceased about a mile downstream, according to the county sheriff's office.

By Monday morning, the San Juan River in New Mexico was flowing at 1 1/2 feet above its flood stage of 23 feet. Forecasters expected it to crest at 31 feet later Monday before falling below flood stage by Tuesday morning. This surge approached the river's historical crest of 32 feet recorded on September 10, 1927.

Residents of Bluff, Utah, who were evacuated over the weekend, were permitted to return early Monday. However, officials cautioned that many properties remained flooded and advised returning residents and businesses to exercise care.

"Stay out of the San Juan River," the National Weather Service warned. "Water levels remain elevated, and possible sewage contamination poses additional health risks."

In the Farmington area of New Mexico, swollen rivers were receding, but many residents remained evacuated and hundreds were without power. San Juan County, New Mexico, spokesperson Devin Neeley described the situation as a "pretty active disaster zone" but could not provide official figures on home damage or the number of evacuees.

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and Major General Miguel Aguilar of the New Mexico National Guard were scheduled to visit San Juan County on Monday to survey damage and meet with affected residents. Local officials urged patience and cautioned about potential hazards, including contaminated water and broken gas or propane lines.

David Vega, San Juan County Fire & Rescue Chief, acknowledged the public's eagerness to return home but emphasized ongoing risks. Undersheriff Cory Tanner stated that officials were conducting house-to-house hazard checks, a process expected to take several days.

Zach and Abigail Flatt, residents of Bloomfield, New Mexico, described the rapid rise of the San Juan River near their home, forcing them to evacuate on Thursday evening. Water reached about 18 inches on their property, inundating parts of their home and washing away livestock.

In the Shiprock area of the Navajo Nation, wastewater facilities and water holding ponds were damaged, leading to sewage releases into the San Juan River, according to Wilfred Franklin Jr., District Manager for the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority Shiprock District.

New Mexico's congressional delegation has urged President Donald Trump to declare a federal emergency for the state to secure additional federal assistance funding.

In Colorado, efforts included mapping affected roads, identifying closures, and designating evacuation zones.

The recent flooding follows two months of intermittent heavy rainfall in the region, fueled by tropical moisture from the Pacific. This pattern has been linked to El Niño, a natural warming of parts of the Pacific Ocean, and has also caused deadly flooding in other areas, including the Grand Canyon and parts of New Mexico.