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Elevenmile Canyon CLOSED

Original Post
Mike Gray · · Smoke Hole Canyon · Joined Apr 2008 · Points: 391

Due to recent heavy rains, the Denver Water Board began releasing water on Tuesday due to concerns over the integrity of the dam between Elevenmile Canyon and the Reservoir.

Water was also released from Tarryall and Spinney Mountain.

Several hours later, as the water reached dangerous levels, the DWB finally notified the Pike National Forest that they would be washing away the road and putting lives at risk.

An hour or so after that, the PNF began evacuating all campers and personnel from the Canyon, and closed the road once they were all out.

Yesterday, they got around to evacuating the Boy Scout Camp.

At present, Wagontongue Road is still closed to both camping and travel, probably for the season, from Co. Rd. 96 to the canyon road.

Elevenmile Road has been compromised by water in several places near Riverside Campground.

(Last report was that the stone wall on the way from the entrance booth to Riverside is GONE, and that several other sections are washing away as we speak.)

The water levels will remain at flood through the weekend, if not longer. Repairs to the road could take from a week to a month, depending on how much more ground is lost in the flood stage, and the canyon will not reopen to the public, even for foot travel, until those roads are repaired.

Tim Stich · · Colorado Springs, Colorado · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 1,520

Sheesh, why not build a dam that can handle the water in the first place?

Dylan Randall · · Nashville, TN · Joined Sep 2012 · Points: 615

Spring has been interesting to say the least

Mike Gray · · Smoke Hole Canyon · Joined Apr 2008 · Points: 391

The dam was built in 1932 as part of Roosevelt's make-work projects to recover from the Depression. Obviously, the engineering is a bit primitive, but this is a record year for rain and storms, as well. As with all older flood control structures, the key is intelligent, well-trained personnel perceiving a problem and reacting to it correctly.

Tony B · · Around Boulder, CO · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 24,665

This year the planned drain and repair is/was at Antero Res. They are draining it to repair that dam and it has been in a dwar-down for a while. I imagine that these were all being planned over time.
A big spring can elevate a res over it's safe level. Antero has been held 20' below the dam top for quite a while... it will be filled when it is repaired.

Maybe 11mile was in similar shape and can't hold the deluge.

Rick Blair · · Denver · Joined Oct 2007 · Points: 266

Safe to say the Front Range won't be going low on water this year. That's good.

Glenn Schuler · · Monument, Co. · Joined Jun 2006 · Points: 1,330

Thanks for the heads up Ronin. Hopefully it won't take too long to reopen.

Mike Gray · · Smoke Hole Canyon · Joined Apr 2008 · Points: 391

One main problem is there really WAS no draw-down on Elevenmile during the early part of the deluge.

Hopefully the National Forest will quickly formulate a plan and implement the same.

Bryan Gartland · · Helena, MT · Joined Jan 2002 · Points: 623

Hey, Mike. Good to see that you're back in sunny Colorado. I hope you got a lot of climbing in at 11mile before the recent turn of events.

Central CO is certainly having a wet year, with more widespread moisture than I've ever seen in that area. Reservoir management is always a crap shoot, full of speculation and guaranteed second guessing if things don't go exactly as planned. I'm curious how you think things might have been better handled? It seems to me that the authorities are generally taking the appropriate measures. Failure of the (aged) dam structure would obviously way more disrupt canyon recreation, and likely kill many people, than the closure currently in place.

On an entirely different note, been down to the Stonewall recently?

Tony B · · Around Boulder, CO · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 24,665
Ronin wrote:One main problem is there really WAS no draw-down on Elevenmile during the early part of the deluge.
Do you think that is because they were trying to draw down Antero, which means not letting too much build up there?
Mike Gray · · Smoke Hole Canyon · Joined Apr 2008 · Points: 391

Bryan-

Good to hear from you again. We tried to get down to Purgatoire back in April, found a foot and a half of snow still covering the road up to the campsites, headed back south and spent a great week climbing basalt in Sugarite. It was the first visit and first time climbing basalt for my wife, Cindy. Did all those lines you and I used to have so much fun on. Didn't find any climbing gear just laying around or lost Boy Scouts trying to kill themselves, though.

tenpins · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 30

commenting to follow; will someone post when it is open again. thanks

Tim Stich · · Colorado Springs, Colorado · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 1,520

Very interesting summary of the backstage events. Sad and rather pathetic. But it certainly beats allowing the dams to fail.

Mike Gray · · Smoke Hole Canyon · Joined Apr 2008 · Points: 391

True, Stich... but it was never an either-or situation.

Bryan Gartland · · Helena, MT · Joined Jan 2002 · Points: 623

Mike - It sounds like the 11mile release implementation and communication could have definitely been better handled, sorry to hear that you and others have had a major crimp placed on summer plans. Hopefully the flows drop, and road repairs made, before too much longer.

You might recall that I have been in water management for many years, most recently with the Montana DNRC. Dam integrity and public safety will always be priority #1, followed by the use and distribution of water per the prior appropriation system. Denver Water, or any other water provider in the exploding Front Range region, is unlikely to spill/release stored water until absolutely necessary. While there may be a relative surplus in June 2015, come Sept 2015, or conceivably any date into the future, DW is going to be supply-side short again and every inch of water in their collection system will be gold.

Also look down river at Chatfield Reservoir, which I believe is the most heavily used state park in Colorado. It is currently at record high elevations and closed to almost all boating until S Platte River inflows drop, or downstream folks get hammered by elevated dam releases. In Chatfield's case, the long term future of recreation is particularly grim given the plans to permanently raise its serviceable pool elevation by 12 ft. Bummer that 11mile is taking a big hit this summer but it's an inevitable sign of the times - more people and the same, or arguably less, water to work with is going to translate into more burdens on everyone who lives in these arid areas.

Good to hear you and Cindy got back to Sugarite. I'm thinking that a lot of the hardware at the Stonewall might be needing some attention. Plus, I have no doubt that we left some low-hanging fruit still to be picked! I haven't been down there in almost ten years...

Mike Gray · · Smoke Hole Canyon · Joined Apr 2008 · Points: 391

The original post and all replies in this thread are those of the author only, and do not reflect the opinions or attitudes of the owners or management of Canyon Enterprises, the concessionaire operating the campgrounds of the canyon and surrounding region in partnership and cooperation with the Pike National Forest and Denver Water Board.

Bryan Gartland · · Helena, MT · Joined Jan 2002 · Points: 623

Hey, Mike - Nope, never worked for Denver Water. I was in the consulting world in those days, largely keeping tabs on the Powder River and Raton Basin CBM production.

Really sorry to hear that the stress and heat have caused your wife trouble, and I truly hope things get back on track for you both ASAP. The point I'm trying to make is that recreational pursuits are pretty far down the priority list for the largest public water utility in Colorado. It's been that way for ever and the continued growth of the Denver metro area is only going to compound the matter. The history of western water use is rife with disputes and shenanigans of all magnitudes (e.g. the film Chinatown).

Like I said, it appears that the implementation of the 11mile closure could have been better handled. In the meantime, hang in there.

john strand · · southern colo · Joined May 2008 · Points: 1,640

Sucks about your wife..hang in there

Chinatown..I wanted to re-read Cadillac Desert

Dankasaurus · · Lyons, CO · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 85

Whatever happened to the saying "good enough for government work"? I think we should bring it back because it's a truism, as evidenced here.

It's not political to observe, as so many others have here, that the infinite state is still as ponderous as it ever was, despite the slick marketing via social media and the creme de la creme of American youth having a religion of government.

"This near disaster brought to you by a multiagency screwup at the cost of millions of dollars!"

We live in the age of government marketing itself with your tax dollars. The marketing should at least be accurate (unlike all other marketing that ever was or will be).

The religion of government is a threat to our way of life. And yet it is taught everywhere by well-meaning but misguided, aggressive young secularists.

zliibbe · · Colorado Springs, CO · Joined Mar 2011 · Points: 10

Is it still closed as of today (6/27)?

Mike P · · Saint Louis · Joined Apr 2013 · Points: 71
zliibbe wrote:Is it still closed as of today (6/27)?
Yes, it is still closed as of 6/29. Per a phone call today to the Forest Service, their best estimate is that it will be closed through 7/13. But that's definitely just an estimate and it could be longer.
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Colorado
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