Summit County Citizens Voice

Pipe plugging, overflow and fill scour on Missouri Creek, FSR 704 (Homestake area) near the Missouri Creek trailhead in Eagle County. (U.S.Forest Service photo).

Golden, Colorado Springs water diversion structures damaged in Summit County

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Recent surges of high water in local streams caused extensive damage to trails, roads and bridges across the White River National Forest, according to a press release from the Forest Service.

In Summit County, the high flows damaged infrastructure associated with water transmission facilities for the Cities of Golden and Colorado Springs.

Elsewhere on the forest, damage included a washed-out bridge in the Holy Cross Wilderness area and a mudslide along Piney Ranch Road (FDR 700) just past the Lost Lake Trail. A culvert on the spur road to Woods Lake was over topped by high flows and the surrounding fill was washed out.

High water also flooded the vault of a new toilet in the Lost Man Campground, and flooded individual campsites in several other campground, including the Freeman Mesa, Bogen Flats and Deerhammer campgrounds.

Across the Forest, debris has accumulated on the piers and footings for numerous bridges. This may have caused structural damage to the bridges that will require significant repairs.

“We first became aware of the challenges the Forest Service might face when, in the middle of last week a hiker reported to our Eagle/Holy Cross Ranger District that the Lower Cross Creek Bridge in the Holy Cross Wilderness Area had been washed out,” said Forest Supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams. “This report was followed by a series of reports of damaged roads and trails, damaged or destroyed bridges in other locations, flooded campgrounds, or high water filling vault toilets along many of the tributaries to the Colorado River.”

According to engineers with the White River National Forest, it may be several weeks before the agency has a complete picture of the damage caused by recent high water.  The public is urged to exercise caution when approaching bridges, especially those that appear to have a significant accumulation of debris on piers and footings.  Any observed damage should be reported to the Forest Service as soon as possible.

“Flood damaged infrastructure will be costly to repair but we are committed to doing so as funding becomes available,” Fitzwilliams said.

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Filed under: Dillon Ranger District, forests, public lands, rivers, Summit County Colorado, US Forest Service, White River National Forest Tagged: | Forest Service campgrounds and floods, Frisco Colorado, national forest flood damage, Summit County, Summit County Colorado, Summit County News, White River National Forest