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San Juan River/ Wolf Creek Flood Info

1,922 Views | 17 Replies | Last: 1 day ago by LRHF
LRHF
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5:37p, 10/26/26
AG
Howdy!

If you have a trip scheduled to fish the San Juan River in November or December, please talk with your outfitter and cancel the trip. I'm a full time guide on the San Juan and we just experienced a 100 yr storm. There are many negative impacts, here is a quick summery:

*San Juan River- currently unfishable. The water is dark brown coming out of the dam. 0-3 fish are being caught on a float and some fish are dying when released. Wouldn't be suprised to see New Mexico Game and Fish close the river soon. I made one trip after the storms and won't guide anymore this season.

*Wolf creek/ Pagosa- major road damage. Conflicting information about a single lane being open. Sounds like months of road repairs as we slide quickly into winter storms. Could have a major impact on Wolf Creek and associated hotels/ VRBO's etc in Pagosa Springs.

*Bloomfield, Farmington, Shiprock and the Navajo Nation are still dealing with flood waters, displaced people, lost homes etc. The best analogy I can make is this is Northern NM's version of Katrina.


*Durango, CO (where I live) has had major flooding not seen since the 40's. There is some damage but hasn't had a material impact on the city and no concerns about the upcoming ski season.


If there is more news to report, I'll make some more updates.

Cory
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MouthBQ98
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5:44p, 10/26/26
AG
Hmm. Already set to ski first full week of December. Hmm. I wonder if the Southfork side was hit as hard. I know there are places on the pass where lots of rain has caused erosion problems before.

Durango is set up a little better to weather the Animas flooding.
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LRHF
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In reply to MouthBQ98 • 6:54p, 10/26/26
AG
If it's Purg again, you are good to go!
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ChoppinDs40
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9:57p, 10/26/26
AG
South Fork also hit bad. Fun Valley had devastating damage.

Many evacuations of people in town on the south fork. Farther northwest on the north fork looks better. Riverbend resort also hit hard.
Golf course has sustained some damage but lucked out.
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insulator_king
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11:06p, 10/26/26
AG
And Rio Puerco flooded Bernado, north of Socorro, pretty bad.

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SunrayAg
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11:52p, 10/26/26
AG
I was guessing my trip on November 9th and 10th was probably not going to happen.
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OnlyForNow
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In reply to LRHF • 4:05a, 10/27/26
AG
Came through Farmington with the family a few years ago on a road trip after leaving Mesa Verde and heading to Roswell. Dang, stinks that they are getting flooded that badly (stinks for everyone that is affected).
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Bayou City
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4:23a, 10/27/26
We're hearing that 160 will likely be closed in BOTH directions for 10 days to 2 weeks. They have about 10 miles of shoulder washed out directly against the road and multiple spots of sub surface wash out. Once safe, they will open the inside lane in one direction switching turns.

First they have to remove the debris, then test the stability, and then make the repairs. If things go as planned and there's no more rain or snow, the plan is to complete the remaining repairs over the following weeks/months.

I wouldn't expect it to be fully open by the start of ski season. Scuttlebutt inside CDOT is 60+ days. If they get hit with some big storms that figure could be moved back indefinitely.

On average that area has about 4000 vehicle crossing a day. That's increases to 7,000+ during ski season.

If they only have one lane open in December that's gonna add a couple of hours to the WC ski crowd.
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mandevilleag
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8:38a, 10/27/26
Was planning a large family camping/fishing trip to Williams Creek campground in early May when it reopens next year. Were the roads and campground severely impacted, and would repairs be feasible over the winter months given priorities? Just wondering if I should cancel and/or delay to the fall of 2027.
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MontgomeryAg2010
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9:12a, 10/27/26
how's the upper Conejos south of Platoro?
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LRHF
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10:21a, 10/27/26
AG
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1HPJJZcxsU/?mibextid=wwXIfr
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EriktheRed
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In reply to MontgomeryAg2010 • 10:40a, 10/27/26
AG
Lots of wet cabins in Rocky Mountain estates, Bridge washed out at Conejos River ranch, water over hwy 17 at Horca, pretty nasty.

You have a place up there?
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MontgomeryAg2010
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In reply to EriktheRed • 11:10a, 10/27/26
That's horrible, No cabin but spend alot of summer time in Platoro fishing the Conejos and treasure creek.
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LRHF
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In reply to Bayou City • 1:35p, 10/27/26
AG
Thanks for getting updates from your CDOT connection!
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Bayou City
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In reply to LRHF • 2:13p, 10/27/26
Updated:

So just heard an update.

It's going to be 1 lane for the duration of the winter into the spring. They can't make permanent repairs until the temps are 40+ degrees.

It's gonna be closed for a 10 days to a couple of weeks. Then it'll have signal vans for a week or so while they install the temporary barriers and then portable traffic lights that will cue each direction. Should add at least 30/hr to the drive to WC if not more on clear days.

Dangerous parts going to be when it snows because the lanes will be narrowed by temporary barriers so the plows won't have much space to push snow. It's gonna build up and likely get pretty nasty on those days. I'd imagine snow days will add an extra hour or two. Both directions.
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AgLA06
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2:19p, 10/27/26
AG
Man, that Fox Creek area between Antonito and Chama is one of the places I hope to maybe have a place on the river some day.
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ChoppinDs40
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In reply to AgLA06 • 3:05p, 10/27/26
AG
Grew up fishing the Canejos as did many of my uncles and their fathers.

We bought a place in south fork last fall, fortunately well away from the river.

Pretty devastating for an area with sparse population and very rural. That area is really growing (relatively), I wonder if this puts a hamper on things in the future.

We've been going to fun valley rv resort since the 80s. Some definite anxiety on what they do. My kids have spent their summer vacation there every year.
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LRHF
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10:15p, 10/27/26
AG
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