Sunday’s rainfall resulted in Duncan and Clifton receiving a scare as the Gila and San Francisco rivers rose dramatically Monday.

The Gila crested at about 14 feet in Duncan and the San Francisco at 20 feet in Clifton. Neither river rose high enough to flood the towns as of late Monday afternoon.

Greenlee County Sheriff Steve Tucker said he will have at least one officer closely helping Clifton police monitor the San Francisco. “I don’t think we have any more issues with the Gila,” he said at 4 p.m. Monday.

Sunday’s rainfall results in the Gila and San Francisco rivers in Duncan and Clifton rising dramatically Monday. The Gila crested at about 14 feet in Duncan and the San Francisco at 20 feet in Clifton. Photo by Walter Mares

Clifton Schools did not take any chances and sent students home by noon.

Morenci resident Margo Ray was one of many standing in a vacant lot near the Coronado Bridge in Clifton who marveled at the roiling river. She lamented not being able to go to Ol’ Jo’s Restaurant in Duncan to enjoy Monday Taco Night because some businesses were reportedly closing due to the high water. She later smiled upon learning the restaurant was staying open despite a flood threat. Ray was even happier when she learned the flood threat in Duncan had subsided.

A crowd of 20-40 people stood in the lot and kept a safe distance from the edge of the muddy, churning San Francisco. Many used their cell phones to record the event and send photos instantly to friends and family in Morenci, Duncan and elsewhere.

Emergency services personnel that included Greenlee County Emer-gency Services Coordinator Steve Rutherford closely monitored the rivers. Rutherford, who was in Clifton, had been in touch with a lookout on the Blue River in northern Greenlee County. Around 1 p.m., he was told the Blue had already crested and the San Francisco was expected to reach its peak between 3-6 p.m.

The water level began dropping by 3 p.m. Debris that had been covered by water became visible. However, Tucker said late Monday afternoon the San Francisco was expected to crest again around midnight.

Two men from Union Pacific Railroad, whose bridge is located about 15 feet from the Coronado Highway bridge, walked the railroad bridge as they monitored the water level. Unlike a near-flood in February 2005, the river cleared the bridge with plenty of room to spare.

A hard rain fell in Greenlee and surrounding mountains and melted some snowpack on Saturday night and Sunday.