FLOOD07982

• County: Larimer
• Stream Name: Big Thompson
• Basin: South Platte
• Title: The Big Thompson Flood
• Date: 7/31/1976
• Prepared For: Larimer County
• Prepared By: C.F. Boone Publisher
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Flood Documentation Report

Park area about 6 p.m,
Saturday.
Falling on already saturated
ground, the waters followed
natural contours as they gouged
their way to join established
waterways.
Rockslides and the rising
river in the canyon prompted
the concern of the Colorado
State Patrol, the Larimer
County Sheriff's Department
and other law enforcement
officials who initiated
precautionary measures by
attempting to warn residents of
potential flooding dangers while
attempting to clear the road of
rocks and debris.
Initial telephone reports
concerning the rising waters
were received by the Sheriff's
Department at approximately
8: t5 p.m. and evacuation efforts
hegan shortly thereafter.
"Some people were very
reluctant to move-we couldn't
excite them enough," Sheriff
Robert Watson said later.
The to-inches of rain which

fell in a four-hour period began
to take its toll approximately 9
p,m. when a major wave swept
past the uppcr portion of the
canyon, resulting in a loss of
power for persons in the vicinity
of Evergreen Point.
Water passing through the
spillway atolympus Dam at the
opening of the canyon was cut
off at 9 p.m., a Bureau of
Heclamation spokesman
reported,
But fed by a rushing torrent of
water from the normally empty
Dry Gulch, the Big Thompaon
continued to swell as it was
joined by other previously
nonexistent tributaries.
Gathering debris as it con-
tinued on its cataclysmic path,
the river moved with
devastating quickness, over-
flowing its banks, shredding the
road and sweeping past homes
which were precariously close
to the streambed.
~'or inhabitants of the canyon,
the chaos was heightened by
brief glimpses of the muddied

I

river, illuminated by intense
lightning bursts.
I The Big Thompson Canyon
was exceptionally crowded on
this weekend; summer
residents had occupied their
homes, lodging units were filled
tp capacity, campers were
settling down to enjoy a three-
day weekend in conjunction
with Colorado's lOOth birthday
and motorists were proceeding
along Highway 34 toward
varied destinations.
I Like a runaway train on a
qownhill track the river grew
liigher and swifter.
I The current cut away at its
banks and when the banks were
~one it began a rapid disin-
tigration of everything in its
path.
I Trees, rocks and debris
tumbled down the channel,
demolishing bridges which
crossed its route,
I Where the canyon turned, the
river didn't. Instead, it moved
on, making its own course and
affecting everything in its path.
I

The debris borne by the flood
collided with tremendous force
against low-lying homes and as
the water churned onward
several homes were ripped
from their foundations-often
disintigrated by the force but
more commonly thrown
uselessly aside in a mangled
heap,
Propane tanks, torn from
their moorings, rode the crest of
the wave, frequently exploding
on impact.
Automobiles and recreational
vehicles were whisked from the
road, joining the accumulation
of debris.
Those persons unl ucky
enough to be in the canyon on
the fateful evening did what
they could to establish safe
positions.
Some scrambled desperately
for higher ground, others scaled
steep cliffs to avoid the onrush
of watcr and still others took
their chances by remaining in
their homes or vehicles.
A lucky few heeded earlier

Gulled by f1DDd waters. this
Glen Haven hDme became
anDther statistic In the IDII Df
damage.

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