By Eilene Lyon
Some of you may have heard about our record high river flows, especially in La Plata and Archuleta Counties. On October 23rd, the Animas River in Durango crested at 11,200 cubic feet per second (cfs). It starts overflowing its banks at less than half that amount.
The rains came back this weekend. Today the Animas crested at 12,867 cfs. That still puts it at only half of the all-time record flood of 1911 when it reached 25,000 cfs. The high today is a record in the 41 years I’ve lived here, and maybe even going back to 1911.
We live on high ground. While mudslides do occur around us, things are holding up pretty well this time around. It’s quite a sight to see the muddy torrent rushing below us, though.
Pagosa Springs, about an hour east of us, has been hit so hard that Gov. Jared Polis has declared a disaster area. There will be property damage and loss, though I expect everyone safely reached shelters (as far as I know).
The rains have abated and we should have clearer, colder weather the rest of the week. The recovery effort–time and cost–remain to be seen.
Here are a few YouTube videos:
Junction Creek flooding November 1 The creek normally is maybe 10 feet wide.
Junction Creek flowing into the Animas under the River Trail.
San Juan River flooding in Pagosa Springs.
Feature image: The Animas River flooding south of Durango on November 2.
Eilene, thanks for posting this. While I know your home is on high ground I’ve been wondering just how close the flooding is and if you might be stuck with no way out because of the water. The photos this morning on the news are awful- the home floating down the river and breaking apart, the Pagosa Springs museum teetering and ready to fall in. I’ve been thinking about your pictures of the “normal” river walk public art as well. Just so many things destroyed and now so much repair to do. Take care as you get out and about.
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Pagosa is really in trouble. The highways are closed—roads washed away or bridges—that I wonder how they will get supplies.
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The reporting here just keeps talking about emergency repairs for now but when you see the pictures where there is nothing left to support a road to begin with…just awful.
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That kind of damage is not easily fixed or worked around. I just don’t know where that leaves things for Pagosa.
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How awful. Everywhere we turn there are natural disasters, larger and more common than ever before. And yet there are still those who deny the reality of climate change. Stay safe…
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The only potential threat at my home is fire, I believe. But this event has brought devastation to many people. We once considered buying a property on Junction Creek to build a house (and a bridge to reach it). Thank goodness we didn’t!
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Thank goodness you live high above the river! I had not heard of the floods in CO yet.
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They have done quite a bit of damage. I don’t really know the extent.
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I’m glad you live on high ground!
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Yah! Me, too.
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Holy moly! Your pictures are fabulous and those videos, though… 🫥
So glad you are safe. My goodness…
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I’m sitting pretty, as usual. Not my time for disaster, I guess. Not fun seeing real damages, though.
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May it never be your time! And no, I bet it isn’t.
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Thank you for sharing, friend. I have been worried about you and yours! Please stay safe. Johnna sends her well wishes too.
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Thank you, Brandi. The town will recover, of course. Harder for some others.
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My goodness, that is scary stuff! I hope there have been no injuries or fatalities – but so many people must have lost such a lot.
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It’s going to be costly, for sure. I’ve not heard of any injuries or deaths.
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Very scary climate change. No, I wouldn’t have thought you would have a flood issue. Glad to hear you and your property are OK. Hard for those who were affected dramatically.
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Yes, we are fortunate, once again. We have much more concern about fires than floods at our home. It will be interesting to see what the damage total comes to.
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Millions if ours are anything to go by. Nothing, absolutely nothing under a million when it comes to recovery of land or buildings. Contractors have a field day, literally.
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Wow. I appreciate the photos showing your normal view of the river and the flooded version. It’s amazing how far water can spread. Absent rains, mudslides, and fires, it looks like a beautiful place. Glad you’re okay. Here’s recovery wishes for your neighbors on lower lands.
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