Unprecedented flooding in northern Vallecito on Saturday forced the evacuation of over 390 homes, damaged an estimated 100 homes, and damaged bridges and evacuation routes.
Despite the scale of the flooding, no deaths or serious injuries were reported, according to La Plata County.
“Nobody died today,” Upper Pine Fire Protection District posted Saturday evening on Facebook.
The county said in a news release Sunday afternoon multiple agencies, including Upper Pine fire, La Plata County Sheriff’s Office, and the county assessor’s and building offices are evaluating the flooded area to find hazards and assess damage to homes before residents are allowed to return.
Upper Pine fire and the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office conducted 11 successful high-water rescues on Saturday, according to a county news release. Most of the rescues were necessary after a levee breach on the east side of Vallecito Creek flooded Tucker Lane.
La Plata County Emergency Management issued another evacuation notice Saturday evening for residents of Middle Mountain Road, citing the closures of East Vallecito Creek Bridge on County Road 501 and restricted access to 5 Branches Bridge due to road damage.
Three evacuation zones now cover much of northeast Vallecito, including the original zones north of Vallecito Reservoir. An evacuation map is available at ReadyLaPlata.org.
Upper Pine fire announced Saturday that the evacuation route on County Road 501A from Elkhorn to 5 Branches “is now impassable” due to damage that made it unsafe for vehicles.
“The only open evacuation route is down County Road 501 and County Road 500 leading to Bayfield High School,” the fire district said.
La Plata County advised evacuees to use County Road 501 west of Vallecito Lake and exit south, noting there is no access via the east side of the lake.
A number of road and bridge closures are in effect as well, including:
- The intersection of County Roads 500 and 501, which is open to exiting traffic only.
- County Road 501A.
- East of Vallecito Creek Drive.
- Tucker Lane.
- Mountain View Drive.
- Scenic Drive.
- West Vallecito Creek Drive.
- Ponderosa Drive.
- Faith Lane.
- The 5 Branches Bridge is closed at 4762 County Road 501 A.
- The East County Road 501 Bridge is closed at Vallecito Creek Drive.
- The Mountain River Road Bridge is closed.
Abutment work on impacted county bridges and the Vallecito Creek Bridge on County Road 501 is scheduled for Monday.
With helicopters scheduled to fly over the impacted area to assess damage, drones are prohibited to fly in the area from Vallecito Lake dam to the north, according to the county.
La Plata County issued a local disaster declaration Saturday afternoon to obtain state resources and increased access to funding for response and recovery.
The American Red Cross announced Sunday that the overnight shelter established Saturday at Bayfield High School has been relocated to the Bayfield Recreation Center at 110 East South St.
“Anyone who has been affected is welcome to stop by for a hot meal, to charge their phone and get other support. We don’t ask for identification, and you don’t have to stay overnight,” the Red Cross said.
Evacuees must have RapidTag credentials to return to evacuation zones once they are deemed safe, according to the county.
Credentials can be obtained at the Pine River Shares building at 658 S. East Street in Bayfield.
Christy Korinko, who evacuated with her husband from their home near County Road 501 and Vallecito Creek, said that as of 11:48 a.m. Sunday, residents were not being allowed past county roads 500 and 501 to return.
“We may need to find somewhere to stay tonight,” she said in a text message.
Upper Pine fire described the flooding on Saturday as significantly worse than the 2006 Vallecito flood, which inundated at least 18 homes.
The National Weather Service attributed the flooding to Tropical Storm Priscilla, which tracked north off the Baja California coast in Mexico.
Meteorologist Brianna Beato with the NWS Grand Junction office said Priscilla contributed to precipitable moisture values 300% to 400% above normal for mid-October in the Durango area.
Rainfall from Thursday through Saturday exceeded double the historical 48-hour record totals in Vallecito, she said.
That led to unprecedented flooding along Vallecito and Grimes creeks, which wind through northern Vallecito.
A record-breaking 7,200 cubic feet per second was captured for Vallecito Creek on Saturday ‒ more than double a typical spring runoff, said La Plata County Administrative Analyst Sarah Jacobson on Saturday.
Although peak water flows subsided Saturday, more rain is forecast Monday and Tuesday, and the emergency flooding event continues, she said.
cburney@durangoherald.com
