Home

Steamboat Springs — Spring runoff for Routt County's two largest rivers likely will peak this week, National Weather Service forecasters said Monday after issuing a flood advisory for the Yampa and Elk rivers.

The peak for the Elk River, as measured at a site near Milner, is expected to rise to 7.2 feet Wednesday morning, just above the flood stage of 7 feet.

The Yampa River in downtown Steamboat Springs also is expected to peak Wednesday morning at 6.2 feet. Flood stage for the Yampa is 7 feet.

"This is going to be the week," hydrologist Bryon Lawrence said. "We're expecting the peak in Steamboat Springs to be Wednesday around 7 or 8 a.m."

Routt County Emergency Management Director Bob Struble said he surveyed the rivers during the past several days and that although they are rising and technically above the "bankfull" stage, the waters are not spilling over.

"It's not above bankfull. I've been out all weekend looking at them, and we've got a while to go yet," he said.

He continued to monitor the rivers throughout the county Monday.

Forecaster Jim Daniels, with the National Weather Service's Grand Junction office, said a weather system expected to move in later this week could bring rain, which would push the rivers even higher.

"If you make it through this upcoming seven days or so, you'll probably see things recede," he said.

Struble said he expects some spillover in traditionally flood-prone areas, including the junction of the Elk and Yampa rivers and several places along the Elk.

"High water is the homeowners' responsibility," he said. "We don't get involved unless it's a rescue situation or another emergency."

Struble recommended that concerned homeowners read the high water management guide produced by his office. A copy of the guide is available with this article on Steamboatpilot.com.

The river levels will recede slowly in the coming days as groundwater in the mountains continues to flow into the rivers, Lawrence said.

"It won't get below what we call 'bankfull' until Sunday or Monday," he said. "It should continue to drop thereafter because a lot of snow on the mountain continues to melt as we speak."

The Yampa typically peaks between May 19 and June 12. The river peaked on June 4, 2008, at 6.34 feet, and on May 18, 2007, at 5.16 feet.

Lawrence said the early peak bodes well for river sports.

"We're in good shape. Even though it's an early peak, we're in good shape for tubing and whitewater rafters," Lawrence said, adding that Stagecoach Reservoir will fill and gradually release water throughout the season.