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<br />River Basin received the <br />highest snowpack at 191% of <br />average. The Colorado River <br />Basin was well above average at <br />169% of average, followed <br />closely by the Gunnison River <br />Basin at 162%. Nearly 40% of <br />the snow course measurements <br />made in the Colorado and <br />Gunnison River drainages set <br />new records for May. <br /> <br />During early May, an abrupt <br />change in weather conditions <br />with temperatures in the 80's <br />and 90's caused rapid snowmelt <br />affecting many of the small <br />tributaries feeding into the <br />major ri ver basins. The <br />Uncompahgre River reached the <br />second highest flow on record <br />at 3500 c.f.s, In addition to <br />the Yampa, Colorado and <br />Uncompahgre Ri vers , the <br />Gunnison was flowing near flood <br />stage with flood warnings <br />issued for the upper reaches of <br />the Gunnison. <br /> <br />Flooding in Delta County caused <br />the evacuation of five <br />families. At Silt, the <br />Colorado River threatened to <br />overtop the Water Treatment <br />Plant located on an island in <br />the river. Corps of Engineers, <br />Town crews, and volunteers <br />waged a valiant flood fight, <br />including the use of a <br />helicopter, to save the <br />facili ty. The Town of Oak <br />Creek in Routt County lost all <br />four of its bridges, which <br />divided the town in two. <br /> <br />In Eagle County, the northern <br />road into Red Cliff was closed <br />due to a landslide. Landslides <br />in both east and west Vail <br />caused damage to several <br />condominiums and threatened <br />others. On the morning of May <br /> <br /> <br />Photo 1. Landslide at vail <br />Innundates Home. <br /> <br />26th, a Landslide east of Vail <br />-closed all four lanes of <br />Interstate 70 for several <br />hours. <br /> <br />Continual high flows, at or <br />near flood stage at many <br />locations along the major river <br />basins of the state, continued <br />to take their toll of public <br />works facilities at or near the <br />streams and rivers towards the <br />end of May. <br /> <br />Flooding and landslides <br />throughout the state affected <br />dozens of communities. <br />Flooding occurred in the <br />streets of several towns, <br />bridges were washed out, roads <br />were closed, water lines were <br />broken, water supplies were <br /> <br />3 <br />