Evacuations remain active as southern Colorado flooding shuts down roads, schools

Rivers continued to flood communities in southern Colorado on Tuesday, fueled by excess runoff from overnight rain and surpassing weekend flood levels.

The “hazardous conditions” have closed roads, evacuated residents and shut down school districts, according to Archuleta County officials.

Mandatory evacuations remained in place Tuesday morning across Archuleta County, and, although the rain had stopped, the river continued to rise as water runoff flowed from multiple catchment areas, according to the sheriff’s office.

Rapidly rising water levels and the major flood threat caused town and county officials to issue a mandatory evacuation order for all residents living along Hermosa and San Juan streets the prior evening, police said. Evacuated residents should not attempt to return home until notified.

Monday night’s flooding exceeded the peak that occurred on Saturday, sheriff’s officials said. As of 7 a.m. Tuesday, the San Juan River had reached a high of 12.75 feet at 8,400 cubic feet per second, according to federal monitoring stations.

During its spring peak in May, the river was flowing at a rate of 786 cubic feet per second and at a height of 6.10 feet, federal data shows. Flooding officially starts at a height of 10.5 feet.

Floodwaters and debris in Pagosa Springs caused the sewer lines to fail underneath U.S. 160 early Tuesday morning, shutting down the highway, according to the police department.

As of 4:48 a.m. Tuesday, emergency crews were on scene and assessing the damage. It’s unknown when the highway will reopen.

Archuleta County school district officials canceled all classes on Tuesday because of the high water and the flood’s impact on county infrastructure, sheriff’s officials said.

“Due to continued flooding and hazardous conditions, all schools in the Archuleta School District (ASD) will remain closed today,” Pagosa Springs Middle School officials wrote in a statement. “The safety of our students, staff and families is our top priority.”

Archuleta County’s flooded creeks and rivers are expected to recede by Tuesday afternoon, according to a flood warning from the National Weather Service that will remain active through midnight.

That includes the San Juan River, the Navajo and Little Navajo Rivers, Leche Creek, Cutthroat Creek, East Fork, Augustora Creek, Big Branch, Spring Creek, Stove Creek and Peterson Creek, according to the warning.