Archuleta County representatives held a community meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 3, to provide an update for Arboles residents on the impacts of recent flooding.
Archuleta County Sheriff Mike Le Roux explained that the county has experienced “wide-scale devastation to the majority of our county road infrastructure,” specifically noting county roads 500 and 551.
“We also sustained damage to the Piedra River bridge, making that impassable,” he said, explaining that currently the only access into Pagosa Springs is U.S. 84.
Le Roux commented more on County Road 500, explaining that the road “is absolutely devastated, and [so is] our access down there.”
Le Roux also indicated that the area experienced damage to a fiber line located in the Devil Creek area.
He noted there is a “huge footprint of disaster area to deal with.”
“We’re aware that services are compromised,” he said, explaining that the county is leaning heavily on the area’s main trash collection provider, Elite, to assist in coming up with a solution for service in the Arboles area.
Le Roux explained that currently the only route for that provider to get into Arboles is a three-hour trip through New Mexico.
“That’s not really feasible,” he said, indicating there may be alternative solutions out of Ignacio.
Le Roux explained that there are multiple areas of residents who are currently “landlocked” due to roads being washed out, and that plans are being developed in order to “sustain” those communities that now have an absence of significant infrastructure.
“I think we’re in the best possible place we can be,” Le Roux added, explaining that the state has “bent over backwards” to make sure the resources are made available to the county.
In response to a question from Commissioner Veronica Medina, Le Roux indicated that with the help of resources from the Colorado National Guard, “it’s very doable” to have resources transported down to Arboles for residents currently in need.
One resident asked about a “leaking propane tank” near the Piedra River area, and how they could report that damage.
County Manager Longinos Gonzalez explained that there is a link on the county’s website for residents to report damage, which can be found at www.archuletacounty.gov/2026/10/report-flood-damage-in-archuleta-county/.
Another resident asked about what can be done to get medications to residents who are currently landlocked.
Public Health Director Ashley Wilson explained that instead of providing medication dropoffs for an extended period of time, residents who are in need of medications would likely be evacuated in order to be able to receive the medications more timely.
Another resident asked about what is being done to get the Piedra River back to its “original channel.”
“We did have some river channel changes with last year’s event,” Le Roux said, adding that he is unable to accurately answer how that will be addressed at this time.
He noted that a new river channel is now running through a gravel pit located along Colo. 151, and that the Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Geological Survey would likely be involved in any river channel correction projects.
“But there are people looking at that already,” he said.
Le Roux explained that there is now a nearly mile-long section of Colo. 151 “which is now the new river channel.”
He also noted that the state started to address the situation on Colo. 151 “almost immediately.”
He mentioned that after the Oct. 23 flood event, the plan was to establish temporary access through Colo. 151, but after the second storm on Nov. 1 and 2, that original plan is no longer viable.
“Unfortunately, we got another break just south of the Chimney Rock entrance” near mile marker 13.
“We have a 30-foot section of road blown out there, totally gone,” he said.
In response to another question, Le Roux explained that three Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) deputies are landlocked in Arboles and able to respond to calls.
He also indicated that the ACSO is working with adjacent jurisdictions to assist with coverage.
“We do have patrol staff on that side that can’t get to Pagosa,” he said.
clayton@pagosasun.com
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