Glen Haven (Colorado)

[madamesilverspurs]

For more years than I can remember this has been a favorite stopping place on the way to Estes Park. Heartbreaking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=stghpQxrbUQ

[KittyWampus]

1. Powerful. It reminds of how temporary things can be in the face of nature. Is the river involved

in the flooding heavily engineered?

[hlthe2b]

5. There are multiple rivers involved in the flooding across the state...

This one is the Big Thompson River which experienced a similar (and to date, the worst natural disaster in CO history) event in 1976. It is one of several rivers that have been included since the 1930s in a reclamation project, though it is unclear that has anything to do with what we are seeing now. When one gets nearly the equivalent of a year's rainfall in two days, with a 100 year stalling event like this, I'm not sure it could be avoided.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado-Big_Thompson_Project

[kestrel91316]

10. As far as I can tell, every river and creek and trickle from Denver all the way up to the Wyo border

had massive flooding. Boulder Creek, St Vrain River, and Big Thompson River were the worst. And they all flow into the South Platte, along with the Poudre, which also flooded, right near Greeley in Weld County (out on the plains).

[kestrel91316]

12. News in CO is now saying 350 people in Larimer County alone (Ft Collins area) unaccounted for.

[hlthe2b]

2. Little Salina (four mile canyon west of Boulder) is totally gone, too

[madamesilverspurs]

14. Salina

http://videocenter.denverpost.com/services/player/bcpid1934477716001?bckey=AQ%7E%7E%2CAAAAADe65VU%7E%2CG496cZ36A_XPjUPASyGuL-ELCbXVnCj4&bctid=2671275786001

[hlthe2b]

15. Amazing, isn't it? n/t

[Autumn]

3. One of my favorite places.

[gopiscrap]

4. wow I just hope everyone will be ok

[panader0]

6. So sorry for these people.

Humans like to live on rivers, creeks, shorelines and many places that can be flooded. Unfortunately, there is a risk. You live in California, potential earthquake, you live in Kansas, potential tornado, you live in Florida, potential hurricane.

[Yo_Mama]

16. Ain't that the truth n/t

[Marrah_G]

7. heartbreaking

[xfundy]

8. How awful.

[madamesilverspurs]

9. Lake Estes

[kestrel91316]

11. O.M.G.........I think you go right past that on the way into Estes Park, IIRC.

[Strelnikov_]

13. US 34, Big Thompson Canyon, probably open next spring, at the earliest.

Just went through a photo gallery on Denver Post.

Say next spring because winter is coming on . . . and access is limited. Rebuilding this will be like Operation Market Garden, repair one blow out, to gain access to the next.

My credentials: Lived out in the area about 20 yrs. ago, worked for CDOT, somewhat familiar with the area. Last 13 yrs. have been working river hydraulics/flood repairs (of which there have been many).

The technical term for US 34 . . . it is seriously fucked up.

Mass + gradient = energy.

[riverwalker]

17. the link had a video of how it used to look

end of video, same buildings

[kentuck]

18. It has been pretty bad here in Southern Colorado...

But I think it has been worse up north.

[madamesilverspurs]

19. Taking the high road.

Trail Ridge Road, at its highest 12183' elevation, is now open only for essential travel; presently the only way in or out of Estes Park.

[Blue_In_AK]

20. I'm astounded by this flood.

I lived in Colorado for several years, and my oldest daughter lives in Littleton now. I don't remember anything even remotely like this. Hailstones, blizzards, snow at weird times of the year, yes, but nothing like this. It is heartbreaking.

[fizzgig]

21. we've been mostly lucky here in fort collins

flooding up in laporte and south of town, but no serious damage here. my heart breaks for what the affected areas. there's some cabins up big thompson my husband and i stay at a couple times a year, i hope the folks who run it are ok.

i've seen the pictures from big thompson and we had our flood in 97, but i've never seen anything like this.