Photo courtesy Christy GotchallWhile flood waters are causing death and extensive damage on the Front Range of Colorado, persistent rainfall in Pagosa Country has caused river and stream flows to increase, has led to a noticeably nasty flavor in treated water and, in at least one instance, has destroyed a roadway and put residents on the road at a serious disadvantage.
The owners of eight properties on Cox Circle in Arboles, in the southern section of Archuleta County, found themselves stranded Thursday evening, their road cut by waters reportedly 8 to 10 feet deep.
The water washed out the road after a culvert on Sambrito Creek clogged with debris.
Concerned by the fact that the washout rendered their road impassable, with no ingress or egress for their vehicles or emergency vehicles, homeowners called Archuleta County Road and Bridge, said Christy Gotchall. They were told the road is not in the county system. The Road and Bridge response, said Gotchall, was to indicate that emergency medical and fire officials would be notified that the road is impassable.
Seeing no help on the horizon from the county, Gotchall said, “We’re going to pool our resources, and see if we can do something about it,” noting that the federal response to Colorado’s situation indicates a potential for assistance.
