Two tropical storms originating in the Pacific Ocean pummeled Southwest Colorado with rain over the weekend, causing unprecedented flooding, emergency evacuations and property and infrastructure damage across La Plata and Archuleta counties.
The Southwest Colorado has received 512% of the region’s regular October rainfall over the past several days, and rivers have reached record-breaking depths, spilling over their embankments.
As of Tuesday, evacuation orders remained in place for 390 homes in the Vallecito area, along with 30 homes in downtown Pagosa Springs. Wolf Creek Pass remains closed, along with a number of roads inside La Plata County.
According to U.S. Geological Survey water monitoring data, the Animas River reached a peak of 5800 cubic feet per second (6.25 feet) on Tuesday afternoon. The San Juan River, running through Pagosa Springs, reached a peak at 7,080 (depth of 12.74 feet) around 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, dropping to just below 12 feet by the afternoon.
The area has not seen this level of flooding since 2006, said La Plata County spokeswoman Sarah Jacobson, but emergency response teams have stepped up to the task and been hard at work across the region.
Jacobson said the Emergency Management Center in Bodo Park was packed on Tuesday morning. La Plata County Search and Rescue staff were monitoring the radio; a few people from the state Division of Emergency Management were helping plan reentry; members of Durango Fire Protection District and numerous county employees across the administration, fairgrounds, GIS, Human Services and Assessor’s office were also present.
“Then, of course, we have the American Red Cross running the shelter. I think we had six people at the shelter again last night – and some dogs,” she said. “It’s just really nice that the American Red Cross allows people’s pets to be with them.”
The La Plata County Humane Society has provided crates for evacuated pets, and offered space at its facility to temporarily hold them.
“Lots and lots of hard work goes into this,” Jacobson said.
That includes the work of Road and Bridge crews.
County roads 243, 250, 314 and 319 experienced flooding, rock slides and debris flows but remained open after cleanup, Jacobson said. A culvert was lost on County Road 524, where one lane remained open Tuesday as crews assessed damage.
County Road 124 was closed at mile 4, and the bridge about 8 miles up sustained rock damage. The road may remain closed until spring, Jacobson said, as it typically shuts down seasonally.
A section of the San Juan River running through Pagosa Springs experienced an unforeseen surge early Tuesday morning, resulting in a second evacuation order, infrastructure damage and the closure of Wolf Creek Pass, said David Harris, Pagosa town manager.
At about 3:15 a.m. Tuesday, 50 feet of the sewer line running along First Street Bridge on U.S. Highway 160 was ripped away by a dislodged tree trunk, he said.
Wolf Creek Pass and 1st Street Bridge remain closed for reparation work of the bridge. Traffic is routed around through Hot Springs Boulevard, County Road 119 and Highway 84.
The drinking water remains safe, Harris said, but he urged against swimming in the river.
“We actually have had people get in and raft the river,” he said. ”And there’s so much debris, so many telephone pole-sized tree limb or tree trunks coming down from upstream.”
Damage in residential areas has so far has been contained to a few outbuildings, garages and sheds, he said. Some commercial areas, like the River Center on the east side of the first street bridge have experienced flooding in the lower, basement floors of the building.
Outside the Vallecito area, which has received the brunt of the flooding impacts, heavy rains have seeped into buildings even within Durango city limits.
Sally Florence, a Durango resident said she noticed flooding in the parking garage of the hotel under construction in the 400 block of East Second Avenue on Saturday.
She saw a light on across in the garage, and walked over to satisfy her curiosity. She said areas of the garage had flooded, and water was pouring down from the ceiling.
Between the garage wall and the alley was a gap that had been filled with gravel, which, according to Florence, seemed like a “big red flag,” in regard to the structural soundness of the building.
“Whoever thought that was a smart idea to just put gravel in there is going to get a spanking,” she said.
An employee at Shoe Dept. Encore, located at the Durango Mall on South Camino del Rio, said the heavy rain caused a leak in the store’s roof, and while there does not appear to be any significant damage, several customers have mentioned or complained.
Junction Creek, running through Durango appeared to be in danger of rising onto Avalon Drive and possible wiping out the bridge. Durango police officers responded, but said the levels were already subsiding when they arrived on scene, said Police Chief Brice Current.
The high country saw rain all through Monday evening, and run-off is expected to increase until early Tuesday afternoon.
Another storm is expected to move through the region on Wednesday, Jacobson said. Emergency response officials are expecting 0.2 inches to 0.8 inches of precipitation through Friday.
“It's still not over, but this is a lot better than the 2 to 4 inches that was forecast,” she said.
While radar shows limited rainfall in Durango, there are still chances of rain over the next several days, said Gillian Felton, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Grand Junction.
She said the highest peaks in the San Juan Mountains could receive up to an inch of rain as a low-pressure system to the west is expected to bring a cold front through the region – potentially supporting additional rainfall. Despite the ongoing precipitation, Felton said the weather has been largely as expected, with no major surprises overnight.
Flood watches and warnings remain in effect for La Plata County, Archuleta County and much of the San Juans.
Residents are urged to stay weather-aware and exercise caution, especially in areas that have already experienced flooding or where river levels are rising.
Vallecito residents evacuated from their homes will be allowed brief access to their homes to assess the damage at 8 a.m. Wednesday, said Chris Burke, spokesperson for the La Plata County Sheriffs Office.
People with homes in the evacuated area should meet at the Vallecito Marina checkpoint, and 10 residents at a time will be escorted into the area for one hour, Burke said. He emphasized that it is not a full re-entry.
Rapid tags are required, and those without them can confirm their identity and receive one at the same location.
“We ask that those who are coming in to assess the damage be patient, wait on the others to come out, and to exit before the other ones are allowed back in,” Burke said.
jbowman@durangoherald.com
