Update, 10 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 14: According to the Archuleta County Sheriff's Office, as of 9 a.m., the river flow started to drop and we anticipate seeing a consistent reduction of flow over remainder of the day. The intention is to lift the mandatory evacuation as soon as the river flow drops below 9.48 feet, with is considered the action stage by the National Weather Service. At this time, based on the latest forecast, this looks to be after 4 p.m. today. The county and town staff continue to work diligently to assess damage and ingress/egress to properties to ensure safe reentry. After midday, another update will be issued.
PAWSD crews will be rescheduling the shut down and isolation of the water line from the 1st Street bridge on U.S. 160 to the end of the line on the west side of U.S. 84. Due to the current water level of the San Juan River, crews will be unable to safely and accurately make this repair at this time. PAWSD will send out a new Dropcountr notice to customers once the water level drops to a safe level for the work to be completed.
Update, 8:45 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 14: Archuleta County has issued the following update:
Update, 8 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 14: The Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District has announced a water outage for customers on the south side of U.S. 160 and the west side of U.S. 84 just past Cole's Meat Processing. Distribution crews need to isolate the water line from the 1st Street bridge on U.S. 160 to the end of the line on the west side of U.S. 84. At noon today the water will be turned off so crews can work on the pressure-reducing valce to adust pressure to a more stable operating range.
Update, 6:20 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 14: The San Juan River at Pagosa Springs hit 12.82 feet and 8,560 cubic feet per second at 5:15 a.m. on Oct. 14.
Original: The Pagosa Springs Police Department is issuing an urgent flood update due to rising river levels and significant debris impacting critical infrastructure in the area.
Earlier today, floodwaters and debris caused a failure in the sewer lines beneath the 1st Street Bridge on U.S. 160. As a result, U.S. 160 is currently closed from the intersection of U.S. 160 and U.S. 84 through to Hot Springs Boulevard.
Emergency crews are on scene assessing the extent of the damage. The closure will remain in place until further notice. Motorists are urged to use alternate routes and avoid the area for their safety and to allow emergency services to operate without obstruction.
In addition:
All parks in the area remain closed due to river surge and ongoing flooding.
A mandatory evacuation order remains in effect for affected areas. Residents in evacuation zones should not attempt to return until officially notified.
The Pagosa Springs Police Department will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as they become available.
For updates and evacuation resources, visit the official Pagosa Springs website or tune into local emergency broadcast channels.
U.S. 160 over Wolf Creek Pass is also closed.
Archuleta School District schools will be closed today, Tuesday, Oct. 14, due to ongoing flooding.
ASD states: "Due to ongoing flooding in the Pagosa Springs area, all schools in Archuleta School District will be closed today, Tuesday, October 14. Conditions remain unpredictable, and the safety of our students, staff, and families is our top priority.
"We never make the decision to close school lightly, but we must prioritize the wellbeing of our community. We are in close communication with emergency operations and law enforcement and will share updates as conditions change. Please continue to avoid the river and any flooded areas for your safety. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation."
As of 5 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 14, the San Juan River at Pagosa Springs hit 12.73 feet and 8,400 cubic feet per second — higher than Saturday's peak of 12.66 feet and in major flood stage.
