EMDR Therapy in Black Canyon, AZ

Residents of the Rivers Edge RV Park in Black Canyon City and other nearby low-lying areas were allowed to return to their homes after an order to evacuate was issued on Wednesday morning due to flooding as the nearby Agua Fria River continues to rise.

In the days since a storm began adding precipitation to already increased snowmelt overnight Monday, residents in multiple areas south of the Mogollon Rim have been ordered to evacuate due to rising water levels.

Just before 1 p.m., most evacuated areas were reduced to SET status, which means residents can remain in their homes, but should evacuate immediately once a GO status is given.

More flooding news:River flooding forces evacuations near Sedona, Camp Verde

A 'matter of minutes' for evacuations in northern Arizona

Early Wednesday morning, residents in both Sedona and Cottonwood were ordered to evacuate because of increased flows in Oak Creek and the Verde River, respectively.

Residents of Camp Verde’s Wagon Wheel Trailer Ranch described a frantic scene as water levels rose, eventually flooding the lot on Wednesday morning.

“It went from zero to maybe four feet in a matter of five minutes,” said resident Victoria Louis.

The evacuation was so frantic, in fact, that many trailers were pulled out while still propped up on their jacks and connected to sewer and water lines, further complicating their plans to return. The park sits at the confluence of Beaver Creek and the Verde River, putting it in a particularly dangerous spot when flows reach this level.

Sue Kusar recently moved to Wagon Wheel after living elsewhere in the Verde Valley for two decades. She described the urgency with which she had to evacuate Wednesday morning.

“My oatmeal is still in the microwave,” she said. “It was a matter of minutes.”

Water had just made it inside, as Kusar’s was one of the last trailers to be pulled from the lot while water levels passed 4 feet, covering patio tables and carrying away submerged flower beds.

“Last week, it went down, so you just think it’s going to go down again,” she said.

Her neighbor, Laura Carris, was not as lucky. Her trailer was one of two homes unable to be pulled out and remained in the now-flooded lot.

Carris worried about her two cats, both still inside her home, and other things they were forced to leave behind in the scramble to leave ― namely the portable oxygen tanks that her partner needs to survive.

“Everybody was just scrambling trying to get out of here,” Carris said.

As the water started to recede, a group of neighbors used an inflatable canoe to transport Carris back to her home to retrieve the tanks and any medicine they needed.

With intense flows expected to continue into next week, Wagon Wheel residents are trying to figure out their long-term plans if their usual lot is uninhabitable. As many of them surveyed the damage, Kitha Reeves, a local landowner, offered space on her farm on Fort Apache Road to any displaced trailers. There, she said, they should be high enough to avoid any more flooding.

“If it floods our place, then Camp Verde is really in trouble,” Reeves said.

Is this typical rainfall?

"This is not typical flooding for Camp Verde, although not unheard of," said Gayle Mabery, Camp Verde's interim town manager.

With an increase in snowmelt starting last week, the Verde River has already seen significantly increased flows with even more water likely on the horizon.

"Last week’s flooding ranked in the top 10 flood events on record here on the Verde River in Camp Verde," Mabery said in an email Tuesday night. "Current projections are that we will have higher flows tonight/tomorrow than we did last week on river itself, and on the tributaries that flow into the river near Camp Verde (Oak Creek, Wet Beaver Creek, Dry Beaver Creek and West Clear Creek)."

An emergency evacuation center was set up at the Camp Verde Town Gym at 395 S. Main St. in Camp Verde for the second time in as many weeks.

David Curtis, a volunteer with the American Red Cross, was at the empty shelter Wednesday afternoon ready to welcome anyone forced to evacuate like the five families who stayed in the shelter Tuesday night and the handful they helped during last week's flooding.

"We typically get some type of flooding every three or four years," Curtis said, but he's never seen this volume of water at once in the 12 years he's lived in Camp Verde. Some of the more longtime residents have been comparing this event with the historic 1993 Verde River flood that devastated a 26-mile stretch from Camp Verde to Clarkdale, he said.

These evacuations come after Rimrock and Lake Montezuma residents along Wet Beaver Creek were ordered to evacuate Tuesday afternoon. Prescott residents on Granite Creek and in Granite Gardens were advised to be prepared to evacuate if needed.

Residents near Oak Creek can bring a shovel to fill sandbags at various locations throughout Sedona, including the city lot adjacent to Sedona Red Rock High School and Sedona United Methodist Church on SR 179.

For general flood and evacuation questions, call 928-442-5103.

How do I stay safe during storms and flooding?

Coconino County officials offered the following tips online and advised residents to prepare for approaching storms and potential flooding threats. They further recommended that residents sign up for emergency alerts and remember to stay in READY status for potential emergencies.

Contact northern Arizona reporter Lacey Latch at LLatch@gannett.com or on social media @laceylatch.

Coverage of northern Arizona on azcentral.com and in The Arizona Republic is funded by the nonprofit Report for America and a grant from the Vitalyst Health Foundation in association with The Arizona Republic.

Special for The Republic

Tethered to both a kiddie playground and a backcountry historic trail, High Desert Park in Black Canyon City doubles as an approachable community gathering space and a gateway to the rugged canyonlands of central Arizona.

Dubbed a “Desert Gem” by the High Desert Helpers Inc., the nonprofit group that manages the park and the High Desert Trail, the Yavapai County site packs a massive amount of fun into its 89.1-acre parcel.

The park is situated west of Interstate 17 among the suburbs of Black Canyon City, Rock Springs and the foothills of the Bradshaw and New River mountains.

More:You'll probably see wild burros on this part of the Black Canyon Trail

Swing sets, restrooms, water, picnic tables, grills, sports facilities and a community center anchor the park while 2.7 miles of trails offer unintimidating ways to get some exercise.

The High Desert Trail has two parts: The main “blue” trail is a 1.7-mile loop and the 0.3-mile “yellow” trail (also known as Joedy’s Trail) can be used for a shorter loop option.

The hike begins at a shade pavilion with maps and signs describing local wildlife. Heading west for a counterclockwise hike is the preferred plan as it takes on the climbing section of the trail early on.

Initially the trail moves through a cholla forest that’s part of the park’s 0.8-mile original nature trail that has been lassoed into the blue perimeter loop. Rustic wood signs along the route identify native plants such as jojoba, barrel cactus and saguaros.

More:The best-loved mountain views in Prescott are on display in this hike

Right from the get go and throughout the hike, gorgeous mountain views and a tableland of flat-topped mesas peek through cholla forests and thickets of diverse desert vegetation.

The trail’s appeal is augmented with benches at scenic spots and two spectacular overlook points. A short spur trail leads to Kings Canyon Overlook, a stony edge on the far west end of the blue loop trail that hangs over the deep gorge of Black Canyon.

At the south end of the perimeter loop, the Rock Springs Overlook peers over the severe cuts of the Agua Fria River channel and the famous Rock Springs Café.

Never quite escaping the subdued rattle and hum of I-17, the loop’s east leg dips downhill to meet a connector path that leads to a popular trailhead for the Black Canyon National Recreation Trail, a long-distance, nonmotorized historic route that goes from Phoenix to the Verde Valley.

The final leg swings north through classic high desert ecozones and saguaro-lined ridges replete with a sampling of the quartz outcroppings, metamorphic stone slabs and volcanic ejecta that contribute to the area’s complex geological footprint, completing a fun and informative trek lodged between freeway and wilds.

More:This remote-feeling hike to a river isn't far from Phoenix. How to try it

Hiking in Black Canyon City

Length: 2.1 miles (blue and yellow trails combined).

Rating: Moderate.

Elevation: 2,024-2,153 feet.

Getting there: 19001 Jacie Lane, Black Canyon City. From I-17, take Exit 242 for Black Canyon City/Rock Springs. Turn left at the stop sign, then right at the Old Black Canyon Highway junction. Continue a short distance to Jacie Lane, turn left and follow the road into the park.

Hours: Dawn to dusk daily.

Facilities: Restrooms, water, picnic tables, grills, sports facilities, playground.

Details: Yavapai County Parks, https://yavapaiaz.gov/facilities/yavapai-county-parks. High Desert Helpers Inc., http://www.highdeserthelpers.org/park.

Read more of Mare Czinar's hikes at http://arizonahiking.blogspot.com.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

Special for The Republic

Tucked in the hilly backcountry between Interstate 17 and the feeder gullies of the Agua Fria River, the Little Grand Canyon segment of the Black Canyon National Recreation Trail offers easy access to a remote-feeling hike escape.

The 1.4-mile slice of the more than 80-mile route that runs between Carefree Highway in north Phoenix to the fringes of Prescott National Forest near Mayer showcases a rugged, water-ravaged landscape entrenched by mountains, mesas, washes and mineral-rich foothills just over 30 miles north of downtown Phoenix.

Named more for the presence of the Little Grand Canyon Ranch on the banks of the Agua Fria rather than for any resemblance of the real geological deal to the north, the segment delivers a pleasing rotation of eye-popping vistas served up by way of edge-hugging switchbacks and slinky single tracks.

Hikers should be aware that the area is also a popular draw for recreational shooting and OHV use. Expect to hear a constant pop-pop of rifles and the rev of quad engines during the first half-mile of the hike.

The trail itself is open only to foot, horse and non-electric bike travel, so the noise is soon absorbed in stony clefts and acres of pristine desert.

Short loop hike:Spicy Phoenix hike is a worthy alternative to Camelback Mountain

To find the route from the trailhead, follow the short access path to a T intersection, go right and hike past a chain of RV campsites. The trail is well-signed throughout.

Right from the start, mountain views command attention. To the southwest, the distinctive slanted flattop of Indian Mesa stands among stone sentinels at the remote upper finger coves of Lake Pleasant.

As the trail makes an easy descent along a narrow trail cut from buff-colored compacted volcanic ash, scaly metamorphic shelves and quartz outcroppings, views of the Bradshaw Mountains to the north peek out over vivid green foothills covered in paloverde trees, creosote, cholla and massive squads of tall saguaros.

At the 1.1-mile point, the trail crosses a major wash with scoured caves and quartz-laced boulders polished smooth by years of rushing water. To stay on track at this and all wash and drainage crossings on the hike, be sure to locate the trail signs placed on the opposite side before trudging forward.

The route then passes a rustic gate and the unnamed junction for the Little Pan loop segment before making a dive into the wide floodplains and chiseled channels of the Agua Fria River.

At this point, the trail enters its Williams Mesa segment, heading downhill on a loose-rock cliff face to meet a forest of willow and mesquite trees at the river’s edge. The sandy waterway is strewn with haphazard deposits of rocks, pebbles and flood debris.

Water lingers in pools below sheer cliffs and in glassy rivulets flush with spent cottonwood leaves.

The route crosses the broad desert stream and picks up where a few trail signs cling precariously to a sheer rock face where the path heads directly up and on for another 3 miles to its connection with the Cheap Shop segment near the Little Pan staging area on Azco Mine Road.

The river makes for a nice turnaround point for a 4.2-mile trek. Consult Black Canyon Trail maps for ways to build a loop or longer hike in this gorgeous pocket of foothills that’s not too far from civilization.

Creekside hike:This creekside Arizona hike shows how wildfire changes a forest

Black Canyon Trail: Little Grand Canyon route

Length: 4.2 miles round trip as described here.

Rating: Moderate.

Elevation: 1,699-1,939 feet.

Getting there: Use the Table Mesa Trailhead. From Interstate 17, take Table Mesa Road (Exit 236) which is 36 miles north of downtown Phoenix. At the end of the off ramp, turn left, go a few yards and then veer right onto Frontage Road (the unsigned west end of Table Mesa Road). Continue to the large Table Mesa West sign, turn left and continue to the Table Mesa trailhead at kiosk No. 5 on the right, 3.1 miles from I-17. Roads are maintained dirt/gravel, suitable for all vehicles.

Details: Black Canyon Trail Coalition, https://bctaz.org.

Read more of Mare Czinar's hikes at http://arizonahiking.blogspot.com.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

Special for The Republic

Registering somewhere between a honk and a howl, the vocalizations of the feral burros that roam around Lake Pleasant are as gritty and unbridled as the beasts themselves.

Sturdily built and resilient, the desert-adapted, North African imports first arrived in Arizona in the 1600s carrying supplies with Jesuit priests.

Valued for their strong backs and hardy work ethic, the burros soon found additional employment with prospectors. They hauled ore during boom times and when the mines went bust, they either wandered off or were released into the wild where they thrived in the arid territory.

More:This remote-feeling hike to a river isn't far from Phoenix. Here's how to try it

Make no mistake, these docile-looking vegetarians are not to be messed with. Unlike their cousin the horse, these rough-around-the edges members of genus Equus are hardly the type to stride elegantly before spectators wearing feathered fascinators at a racetrack. They can be scrappy, so it’s smart to observe them from a distance.

Hikers can almost bet on seeing the free-roaming wild donkeys that average about 350 pounds when full grown in the Bureau of Land Management’s Lake Pleasant Herd Management Area. It's 25 miles north of Phoenix, west of Interstate 17, north of Carefree Highway (State Route 74) and northeast of the lake.

More:Don't be fooled by the paved path. This hike is a fun challenge with big views

Much of the Black Canyon National Recreation Trail passes through this swath of upper Sonoran Desert in the hilly backcountry of the Agua Fria River watershed.

The 3.5-mile Windmill Valley segment of the trail, which is just a few miles east of Lake Pleasant, is a scenic trek that winds through prime burro habitat.

The hike begins across the road from the Table Mesa trailhead with an easy walk among huge saguaros with majestic views of the Bradshaw Mountains to the north and a flank of flat-topped mesas near the north coves of Lake Pleasant.

The trail quickly descends into a wash area and fire scar. Torched trees and ashen cactus stumps belie an understory of resurgent shrubs and wildflowers. It’s in this short section of trail where the most species are found.

Look for desert marigold, chia, owl clover, desert snow, scorpion weed, globemallow, woolly daisy, white ratany and frilly American carrot.

More:Easily customizable hike has the best of San Tan Mountain Regional Park. How to try it

Beyond the fire damage, the trail traces a network of washes, bouncing between ridges and drainages as it gradually climbs 500 feet. High points showcase vistas of the New River Mountains, Table Mesa and acres of scrubland where springtime color breaks in colorful cactus blooms, golden brittlebush, buckwheat and rare specimens of bladder sage.

The remainder of the route twists around stone pinnacles, rolling hills and rangeland. It ends at the Doe Springs Segment 7.7 trail miles north of the Emery Henderson trailhead on New River Road.

While the Doe Springs junction makes for a good turnaround point, hikers can opt to customize the hike length by way of a car shuttle or tying in with the popular Boy Scout Loop for a more rigorous out-and-back trek through burro land.

Black Canyon Trail hike: Windmill Valley

Length: 3.5 miles one way.

Rating: Moderate.

Elevation: 1,921-2,450 feet.

Getting there: Use the Table Mesa trailhead. From Interstate 17, take Table Mesa Road (Exit 236). It's 36 miles north of central Phoenix. At the end of the off ramp, turn left, go a few yards, and then veer right onto Frontage Road (the unsigned west end of Table Mesa Road). Continue to the large Table Mesa West sign, turn left and go to the Table Mesa trailhead at kiosk No. 5 on the right, 3.1 miles from I-17. To reach the start of the hike, walk a few yards farther down Table Mesa Road to the BCT sign on the left. Roads are maintained dirt/gravel, suitable for all vehicles.

Note: The Black Canyon National Recreation Trail is closed to motorized travel and shooting, but the surrounding area is popular with OHV riders and recreational shooters. Dust and noise may be noticeable.

Details: Black Canyon Trail Coalition, https://bctaz.org.

Read more of Mare Czinar's hikes at http://arizonahiking.blogspot.com.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

In a land banking deal, Scottsdale-based Walton Global acquired property on behalf of D.R. Horton Inc. (NYSE: DHI) in Gold Canyon, which is about 44 miles east of downtown Phoenix.

The 40.13-acre parcel west of the southwest corner of U.S. 60 and El Camino Viejo, was purchased for $7.46 million, according to Tempe-based Vizzda LLC real estate database.

Called Entrada del Oro, the new community is a $7 million project with 134 units planned. It's about five miles southeast of Gold Canyon Ranch.

Nate Nathan, David Mullard and Casey Christensen of Scottsdale-based Nathan & Associates Inc. represented the buyer and seller in the deal.

Walton Global also acquired 33 acres on behalf of D.R. Horton in Clark County of North Las Vegas, Nevada, and another 37 acres in Spokane County, Washington.

Scottsdale Recovery Center has opened an outpatient facility on Hayden Road and Via De Ventura in Scottsdale.

The 12,000-square-foot building at 8149 N. 87th Place, will employ 100 people when fully staffed, representing Scottsdale Recovery Center's sixth facility in the Valley.

The clinic provides drug and alcohol treatment, and features more than 20 private therapy offices, group therapy rooms, yoga, meditation and art therapy rooms.

The existing structure was renovated by Neo Construction, with Steven E. Frome as architect for the $600,000 renovation project.

Scottsdale Recovery Center owns the building through Arizona Centers for Addiction LLC.

Gorman & Co. is bringing more affordable units to the Valley.

The developer has completed a $15.3 million addition of 66 units to Soluna Apartments at 19th and Roosevelt streets in Phoenix. The completion of Soluna II adds to the $26.3 million development of Soluna I, which is 111 units.

Both phases offer a mix of affordable and market-rate units.

Gorman worked with city of Phoenix Housing Development, Edison-Eastlake Community, Arizona Department of Housing, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Phoenix Community Development & Investment Corp., Phoenix Industrial Development Authority, Raza Development Fund and U.S. Bank.

Gorman General Contractors served as general contractor, while architect of record was Gorman Architecture and Ayers Saint Gross.

Black Canyon Commerce Center – Building A, a 62,771-square-foot multi-tenant office building in Phoenix has sold for $11.2 million, Cushman & Wakefield announced.

The fully leased building at 2101 West Peoria Ave. was acquired by Washington-based Evergreen Associates LLC. The property is on 6.1 acres and was constructed in 1999.

Eric Wichterman and Mike Coover with Cushman & Wakefield’s Private Capital team in Phoenix represented the seller, Next Gen Black Canyon LLC, in the deal.

“This is a sound investment flex office property that feeds perfectly off of the location and its vast labor pool, as evidenced by its strong credit tenancy and the recent expansion of one tenant, bringing the occupancy to 100%,” Wichterman said in a statement.

“This offering also provided exceptional market timing with the trade area being in the early phases of a significant transformation as the new Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) plant is expected to open in 2023, Metrocenter Mall is redeveloped, and other major events ignite significant growth in northwest Phoenix,” he added.

Over in Scottsdale, 345 Wealth Management, a full-service financial services firm, has relocated its headquarters to a 3,000-square-foot space at 4835 E. Cactus Road, Suite 255, the firm announced. The space is part of the Paradise Valley Mall redevelopment.

Founded by Dillan Micus and Patrick Kearns earlier this year, the firm has nearly 20 financial advisors and team members.

“We chose this location intentionally as we wanted to be part of the phased reimaging, which will at full build-out include a central park, community gathering place and dozens of dining, entertainment, and retail experiences,” Micus said in a statement. “We are proud to be part of phase one of this historic redevelopment, which will eventually include a Whole Foods, luxury residential complexes, a collective of office campuses with sought-after amenities, a new dine-in luxury theatre concept, and best-in-class upscale restaurants.”

Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants will open its third Arizona location in Gilbert in early 2023.

The new location, which is currently under construction, is at 2290 S. San Tan Village and is the brand’s third West Coast location. The restaurant brand already has locations in Scottsdale and Chandler.

Cooper’s Hawk is looking to hire more than 165 employees for jobs ranging from line cooks to tasting room attendants. Full-time and part-time positions are available.

Cooper’s Hawk is a privately-owned company with more than 53 locations across the U.S. to date. Each Cooper’s Hawk location offers wine tasting, a wine club, a shop with wines and accessories and an expansive dining area.

Planet Fitness plans to open two new clubs in the Valley by mid-December. The first is in Gilbert, at 706 N. McQueen Road and the other is at 409 N. Litchfield Road in Goodyear.

Artichoke Basille’s Pizza is set to open at Phoenix Desert Ridge Marketplace on Nov. 18, the restaurant said.

Located at 21001 North Tatum Blvd, Suite 40-1365, the restaurant occupies 3,150 square feet for its third Arizona location. The restaurant’s menu will offer the brand’s traditional pies including the namesake Artichoke Pie and creative Crab Pie.

Editor's note: The real estate deal wrap is published regularly by the Phoenix Business Journal. Send new real estate transactions and retail/restaurant leases to managing editor Erin Edgemon, eedgemon@bizjournals.com.