The National Weather Service says two to four inches of rain fell across parts of the Four Corners from Sunday morning through Monday morning, on already saturated ground. At Shiprock, the San Juan river was at 16.4 feet at 9 a.m. Monday, above flood stage.
Flooding is still a concern in Shiprock, where forecasters expect the river to crest near 20.7 feet late Monday night. The National Weather Service expects major flooding and said significant impacts are possible in Shiprock and along the river toward the Four Corners. A flood warning applies to the river at Shiprock, specifically, and will run through Wednesday. Residents should continue to follow local evacuation instructions and avoid flooded roads and riverbanks.
The San Juan National Forest is strongly discouraging travel on Forest Service roads because of extreme hazards. In a release issued Monday, the Forest Service said flooding has left roads, trails and other infrastructure inaccessible, severely damaged or impassable. The extent of the damage is unknown. Forest supervisor Steve Hattenback said unsafe conditions persist across all three districts, and rescues may not be readily available because search-and-rescue resources are in high demand. The agency asks visitors to postpone or cancel trips into the forest until conditions improve.
Mancos evacuation orders lifted
Flooding prompted evacuations in Montezuma County over the weekend. In Mancos, the Marshal issued a pre-evacuation notice Sunday evening and a mandatory evacuation order later that night for an area between First and Mesa Streets, and Second and Walnut streets. Five people spent the night at Mancos Elementary, according to Montezuma County Officials.
The Town of Mancos now says all evacuation orders within the town have been lifted. Town officials caution that flooding may have left hazards in affected areas and ask residents to avoid flooded roads, and to check in on social media for further updates.
Near Dolores, firefighters helped residents evacuate along Highway 145. In a separate update Monday afternoon, the Montezuma County Sheriff's Office said an area including Uptown Plaza, Escalante Trailer Park, the Riverside townhomes, Erik Drive and Breanna Drive near Dolores was being moved to pre-evacuation status. Residents in those locations should stay ready to leave and stay tuned to official instructions.
In a Monday afternoon release, the Town said floodwaters inundated its wastewater-treatment lagoons overnight, causing water to overflow into and out of the ponds. The town says the system’s earthen berms remain intact and its treated drinking water system, which is upstream of the Town, is unaffected. Crews are managing the situation and coordinating with state, tribal and federal agencies. Residents should avoid contact with the Mancos River downstream of Cottonwood Park until further notice.
Road closures and Utah travel
In an email to KSJD on Monday morning, Montezuma County Public Information Officer Vicki Shaffer said roads closed for repairs included Road K.6 off Highway 184; Road 21 south of Road F; Road 26 north of Road L; Road 39 south of the Road G bridge; and Business Route 160 west, where culvert flooding prompted evacuations. The county also reported other repair closures. Some roads that were blocked by mud, rocks or water overnight had reopened, including Highway 145 and Road 31. Conditions can change, so check county alerts before traveling.
The Utah Department of Transportation's late morning updates Monday said SR-162 had reopened near Bluff and at Montezuma Creek. UDOT still listed Highway 163 as closed south of Bluff, from the US-191 junction to the SR-211 junction. Check UDOT's live alerts for current status.
Colorado evacuees seeking help connecting with Red Cross services are encouraged to call 2-1-1. Never drive through floodwater or around barricades.
