FLOOD00374

• Designation Number: 146
• County: Chaffee
• Community: Unincorporated Chaffee County
• Stream Name: Lower South Arkansas River
• Title: Floodplain Information Report - Lower South Arkansas River
• Date: 4/1/1979
• Designation Date: 12/1/1979
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Floodplain Report/Masterplan

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From the tlMountain Mailll
June 28, 1957

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June 28, 1957 (Continued)

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River PasSes Eight Feet & No End lh Sight

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of town are surrounded with water.
Art Weber, a state highway employee,
told Shewalter at noon that highway
crews may try to divert the water
this afternoon.

Clear Creek reservoir, the Pueblo
water supply at the north end of
Chaffee County, is running over the
spillway. Plenty of water is coming
out of Twin Lakes but we were unable
to learn if it is over the spillway

Reaching 8.10 feet at the F street bridge at noon today, the Arkansas River,
fed by melting snows from the Continental Divide, continues to rise. The read-
ing at 8 o'clock this morning was 7.85 feet and that figure was more than a
foot above the record-breaking reading of Thursday.

Indications are that the river will continue to rise so long as the warm
weather continues. There still is a lot of snow in the high mountains to be
melted and to come down the river.

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George Everett, Sr. and Sheriff
E. L. Shewalter, both of whom have
been living in the area for many
years, say that the water is the
highest in their recollection. Water
was rushing through the corrals at
the Everett place about 5 miles west
of Salida. The Grace Terry farm,
about a mile below Everett's place,
also was inundated and the family
had been forced to flee their house
which is surrounded by water, Above
Everett's, the Everett Lowry place
also is flooded.

At the Terry farm, a couple of
goats took refuge on top of a shed.

The railroad cancelled trains to-
day because of water trouble on both
sides of Salida. Water was over the
track, and possibly some line was
washed out, at Swan. In Brown's
Canon, Railroad officials said they
may be able to use the siding at
Swan, provided that the water does-
n't Come higher.

The water was also over the lower
tracks close to Coaldale, railroad
men said. Train No, 2 was held at
Buena Vista and finally was turned
back to be sent to Denver through
the Moffat tunnel.

Several bridges are in peril. The
approach was washed out at the north

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end of the bridge at the George Ever-
ett place but the bridge itself seem-
ed safe. An automobile was going
over the approach when it washed out
but the driver was going at high
enough speed to get onto the bridge.

The bridge at the M. J. King ranch,
above Everett's went out about 2 p.m.
Friday. The whole middle of the
bridge was washed out.

Concern is expressed for Smelter
bridge, on Colorado 291. Water was
just beneath the bridge at noon.

Highway 50 was open east of Salida
but the water was washing right a-
long the roadway at some spots, There
.were some reports of water over the
road in a few places but that traf-
fic can go through,

Ray Drain) county road supervisor,
announced that, '~e are having all
kinds of trouble," county crews are
working desperately to keep bridges
from washing away. Water reportedly
had taken out a bridge at Alpine.
Reports also are that Chalk Creek is
on the rampage and some lowlands are
under water.

Cottonwood Creek still is on a tear
in the Buena Vista vicinity and some
of the West Main street area there is
still under water. Sheriff Shewalter
learned that some houses in low parts

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From the "Sal ida Dai ly Mail-Record"
Monday, June 9, 1952

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RAPIDLY-MELTING SNOWS CAUSE FLOODS
IN COLORADO STREAMS

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The Arkansas River measured 5.3
feet at Salida Monday, having reced-
ed nearly a foot from Sunday's 6.2
depth. Lowlands are flooded along
the river, and the railroad has sand-
bags along the tracks in some places.

Little River, south of Salida, also
is at flood stage.

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or if the water is being allowed to
go through the gates. O'Haver reser-
voir is full but is not giving much
trouble, Sheriff Shewalter learned.

An amazing amount of debris is run
ning down the river with the high
water, Around suppertime on Thurs-
day, one person saw a big tree hit
the Smelter bridge and says that the
bridge shook from the force.

From the "Mountain Mail"
Tuesday, June 12, 1973

Photo Caption on Page 9.

"Waters continue to rise on the South
Arkansas River in the Salida vicinity.
This photo shows the stream running
bank full just south of the Rainbow
Boulevard business district. Authori-
ties say the high waters have been an-
ticipated for some time due to the
unusually heavy snow packs in the high
country which came as a result of late
season snowS. 'Little River' has been
reported over its banks at several
points but thus far there have been no
damage reports although several foot
bridges and fences are said to be
threatened. The high water is expect-
ed to continue through the week."