FLOOD04873

• Designation Number: 359
• County: Archuleta
• Community: Pagosa Springs
• Stream Name: San Juan River and McCabe Creek
• Basin: San Juan/Dolores
• Title: Flood Hazard Analysis - San Juan River and McCabe Creek in the vicinity of Pagosa Springs, Archuleta County, Colorado
• Date: 9/1/1977
• Designation Date: 5/1/1994
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Floodplain Report/Masterplan

the river commenced cutting through its bank at the head of
Hermosa Street. Sand bags were placed in position and the flow of
water halted, but 2 or 3 families moved to higher ground. Peak
discharge was estimated at 16,000 cfs which is approximately the

in Town Park, Unusually high rains and a large amount of trash and
debris caused the bridge to be carried down the San Juan. Water

was considerably higher than during the spring runoff. Debris and

tree trunks were coming down ,the river so fast that it was not

100-year' flood.

possible to keep them cleared from the bridge. Until some type of

May 16, 1941 - High river flows from melting snow in the lower sections
of the hill country caused much concern during the past week.
Property loss was kept at a minimum through the efforts of large

bridge is built, residents across the river are without adequate

fire protection and take the long way around to reach town.

August 31, 1967 - A sudden cloudburst caused a wave of water, debris,

,
crews of workmen who kept the river courses in channel. A house

and electric shop were moved out of reach of the river, Just in

time to keep from being washed away. The ground on which the

and mud to sweep through a portion of Pagosa Springs. The high-

water was caused by a downpour over the drainage north and west of

town. McCabe Creek was out of Its banks through town. Business

buildings stood went down the river.

houses were flooded and water swept through homes. There has been

no accurate assessment of the damage in dollars. The major damage

.
August 10, 1951 - McCabe Creek In the west part of town was fairly high
for a time and all borrow pits were full. Some of the heavy rain
in back of the Batie and Moreland food store reached a depth of 4

was centered around the intersection of the highway and Seventh

Street.

or 5 inches in the store.

The weeks of September 6 and September 13, 1970 - Total rainfall for

these weeks were 2.55 and 2.44 inches respectively. The soil was

June 6, 1957 - Melting snowpack expected to swell river to overflow-
_river depth at the pagosa Springs gage was 8.12 feet (depths of
water 8 to 9 feet are within the la-year frequency flood levels).
Work crews kept floating logs, trees, and other floating debris

soaked with moisture. Flood damage was heaviest to highways,

bridges, and roads. Water was up in many homes in the Town Park,

down the river, and other sections of the county. Peak discharge

from destroying the bridge in Town Park.

at the pagosa Springs gage was 6,S80 second feet (slightly larger

than the 10-year frequency flood event) on September 6, 1970.

August I, 1957 - lots of rain caused plenty of damages to roads and

bridges. The biggest loss was the bridge across the San Juan River

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