Several trailer parks in danger of flooding
The Roaring Fork River, as measured at its confluence with the Colorado River in Glenwood Springs, has been steadily rising in the past week and expectations of a big spring runoff have been rising along with it.
On Friday, April 18 the river was flowing at 800 cubic feet per second. One week later the river had risen to 1,420 cfs. The river should keep right on rising as the snowpack in the Roaring Fork River basin is as high as it has been in 40 years, according to the National Resources Conservation Service.
“The Roaring Fork is showing some of the highest snowpack percentages in the Colorado River basin,” said Chris Pacheco, the assistant snow survey supervisor with NRCS. “You’ve got a lot of snow.”
In anticipation of a big runoff this spring, emergency management officials in Pitkin County, Aspen, Snowmass Village and Basalt are preparing for possible flooding.
They are especially concerned about the Lazy Glen Trailer Park below the confluence of the Roaring Fork River and Snowmass Creek, the Pan and Fork Trailer Park below the confluence of the Fryingpan and Roaring Fork rivers, and sections along the Fryingpan River above Basalt.
The snow hasn’t really started melting due to the recent relatively cool and wet weather. Consider, for example, that the Roaring Fork River just below Maroon and Castle creeks was still only running at 220 cfs on Friday. Local rafting companies don’t run the Slaughterhouse section of the river in that area until it comes up to 600 or 700 cfs.
But the icy cold water is eventually going to come rushing down local streams and rivers.
Pacheco said his agency expects the flow through the Roaring Fork River from April to July this year to be half again as high as average.
The snowpack for the Roaring Fork River basin as of April 1 was at 148 percent of normal. Compare that to one of biggest runoff years in memory: 1984. On April 1, 1984, the local snowpack was at 139 percent.
And by Friday, April 25, the snowpack in the Roaring Fork River basin had slightly increased from April 1, rising to 149 percent of average.
The Bureau of Reclamation is also preparing for high water. Last week, the agency increased the amount of water coming out of Ruedi Reservoir. On Tuesday morning, releases from Ruedi were increased by 50 cfs and then bumped again Tuesday night by another 50 cfs. By Friday, the Fryingpan was running at 328 cfs.
“The increase in releases is in preparation for the upcoming spring runoff,” said Kara Lamb, a public information officer with the Bureau of Reclamation. “The Fryingpan River basin is showing an impressive snowpack this year and we are making sure we have room in Ruedi Reservoir to capture the melting snow.”
Local agencies and officials are preparing in a variety of ways for high water.
The Basalt Public Works Department is stockpiling sandbags for use on town property next to the Roaring Fork and Fryingpan rivers.
City of Aspen streets and parks department personnel are prepared to go on a round-the-clock “bridge watch” to clear debris from under bridges if necessary.
And city officials are sending out letters to some Aspen residents who live in flood-prone areas informing them about flood preparedness and the wisdom of flood insurance.
Local kayakers and boaters are also being warned to look for fallen trees and debris in the river this spring. Trees that have fallen across the river are called “strainers” and experienced boaters know they can be deadly.
Local rafting companies watch for downed trees and take the initiative to remove them on sections of the Roaring Fork between Aspen and Glenwood Springs, but trees can fall over anytime during high water.
“We would love to see people who live along the river, if they see a tree down while they are having their morning coffee, give us a call and let us know about it,” said Jim Ingram, who runs Aspen Whitewater Rafting.
Ingram is hoping to start putting boats in the Roaring Fork the first weekend in May, depending on the water level and the temperatures.
“My hope is that we have an elongated rafting season and we get to stay on the Fork until mid-July,” Ingram said.
The upper Roaring Fork typically reaches its peak level by the third week of June, but it has been known to peak later.
“The general rule of thumb is that the more snow there is the later the peak,” said Bob Harris of Blazing Paddles, who has been running the Fork since the 1970s.
“This year feels different than any other year to me,” Harris said. “There is still a lot of low-level snow. In the past, a lot of that low-level snow has melted in March or April.”
Harris said the date of peak water in the Fork will depend, in part, on whether it is a dry and windy spring or a wet and moist spring. Wind can dry out the snowpack and make it melt earlier.
“In any event, the peak is still going to be a damn good peak,” Harris said.
bgs@aspendailynews.com
