Flood warning issued

Rivers in Colorado are running fast and high with melted snow, including the Arkansas, which is expected to spill its banks in Fremont County today.

The river was at 8.99 feet Monday night in Cañon City and rising steadily. The National Weather Service issued a flood warning, saying the Arkansas would reach flood stage overnight Monday, cresting at 9.4 feet, enough to swamp a few low-lying areas.

Barring heavy rain, officials said no property damage or evacuations are expected.

"We have to hit 11 feet on the gauge before we see any serious meadow flooding, and at that point we would probably see some basements and driveways flooded," said Steve Morrisey, emergency manager for Fremont County.

The river last reached 9.4 feet in June 1987, according to the Weather Service. There was no damage reported then.

While this winter was mostly dry in Colorado Springs, the mountains - and particularly the upper Arkansas basin - had the most snow in a decade. Memorial Day weekend, snowpack was 160 percent of average in the basin.

Summerlike weather has arrived, and the temperature in the mountains has remained above freezing at night, causing the fast melt.

"It's looked like we were seeing some pretty quick drops in snowpack," said Mike Gillespie, snow-survey supervisor with the Natural Resources Conservation Service. "It's definitely been quicker than average since last weekend."

Average snow depth in the basin has dropped from 15 inches to 6.5 inches since Memorial Day, Gillespie said.

The Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area on Sunday is- sued a high-water advisement for the Royal Gorge, The Numbers and Pine Creek Rapid, meaning commercial outfitters switch to other parts of the river, said recreationarea manager Rob White.

The Royal Gorge advisory is issued when the Arkansas runs at 3,200 cubic feet per second. Monday afternoon, which was the hottest day of the year so far in the Pikes Peak region, the river was running at nearly 4,000.

In Cañon City, there were relatively few preparations being taken Monday.

The city has made sandbags available - few residents have taken advantage - and the Colorado Department of Corrections has offered to let inmates assist in fighting backwater if flooding occurs. A walking path along the river was closed. A reverse 911 system is ready to call residents to notify them if they need to evacuate.

Morrisey said he doubts it will come to that.

"There may be some very minor lowland meadow flooding," he said.

He said the river used to flood frequently in low areas this time of year, but people have forgotten about it because of a long string of drought years.

While a handful of houses have been built in the floodplain, officials don't expect them to be impacted.

But, officials warned, with rivers full, the situation could change drastically with even a small amount of rain.

The Arkansas was forecast to peak Thursday, and to gradually drop as a cold front dips temperatures in the high country and slows the melting. Snowpack in the basin remains 130 percent of average for this time of year.

The Weather Service has warned minor flooding could occur on the Colorado, Eagle and East rivers in western Colorado.

Over the weekend, three people drowned in high-flowing rivers while swimming or rafting. The deaths occurred on the Gunnison, Poudre and Little Dolores rivers.

CONTACT THE WRITER: 476-1605 or scott.rappold@gazette.com