Summit County Citizens Voice

This section of the recpath near Breckenridge, Colorado is now closed. Click on the image to see a video of the washout.

Denver Water maintaining steady outflow from Dillon Reservoir just below flood level

*Click here to view a Summit Voice video of the Coyne Valley Road washout

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — High runoff and heavy rains have led to some traffic disruptions, as State Highway 9 has been cut to one lane of travel between Breckenridge and Hoosier Pass. CDOT workers are monitoring traffic and alternating travel for north- and southbound traffic.

In Breckenridge, Coyne Valley Road is closed until further notice due to flooding. Drivers should use the detour on Airport Rd through the Block 11 property as an alternate route to Valleybrook Rd and HWY 9.

Also, Airport Road at Summit Landscaping is closed until further notice due to high water. Businesses are open in the area. Detours are in place. And the recpath is now closed until further notice between Coyne Valley Road and 13217 Highway 9 (at High Country Furniture & Gallery). The Rec path is closed until further notice. Town officials are asking cyclists to  avoid this portion of the bike path due to the dangerous, high water conditions.

Below Dillon Reservoir, Denver Water has managed to maintain the outflow from the reservoir at 1,890 cubic feet per second, just below the 1,900 cfs level which can lead to minor flooding in some of the low-lying residential neighborhoods along the Blue River.

Inflow into Dillon Reservoir dropped from 2,357 cfs Sunday to 2,224 cfs Monday, and has shown a gradual decline during the past few days.

July 8 – 2,516 cfs
July 9 – 2,416 cfs
July 10 -  2,357 cfs

Based on Monday’s inflow, Dillon Reservoir will start to fill and spill in about five or six days, according to an update from Denver Water. At that point, the flows in the Lower Blue will be about equal to whatever is flowing into the reservoir.

After forecast heavy rains Tuesday, conditions are expected to get a bit drier the second half of the week, which could ease high-water concerns.

Filed under: Breckenridge, climate and weather, Colorado, Dillon, Dillon Reservoir, flooding, Snow and weather, Summit County Colorado, Summit County news, Summit County snow and weather Tagged: | Blue River, Breckenridge Colorado, Breckenridge news, Colorado flooding, Colorado weather, Denver Water, Dillon Reservoir, flooding, Hoosier Pass, Summit County Colorado, Summit County News