Surgin' Virgin

[oldno7]

Currently at 5220 CFS. I'm going down today to check it out.

The 21 year average for this time period is usually 50 CFS.

[Bo_Beck]

Currently at 5220 CFS. I'm going down today to check it out.

The 21 year average for this time period is usually 50 CFS.

Had a fella call yesterday and ask if the Tyrolean was still stretched across the river down at the Lower VRG. I told him no and asked why? He said because he was comin' down to run the Gorge at 7000CFS and had heard that the tyrolean presented a problem at high water! I hope no one has reconstructed that highline in the last week? Some big water for kayakers and boaters this week!!!!!!!!!!

[cachehiker]

I was down there for a spring cycling retreat the last time the Virgin hit these levels. Most of the houses that were built right next to the river (against warnings from the locals) had already washed away before we arrived but I did get to watch watch one corner of one house shift about five feet to lean ever more precariously over the flow.

The sign on the house next to it (already damaged enough to condemn) said "FOR SAIL!" :lol8:

I wonder how many lacked the common sense to avoid rebuilding and are going to lose their houses again.

[Win]

Oh yeah, it's raining in Toquerville. LaVerkin Cr is roaring. Yo was having trouble going to sleep last night, the crashing of boulders in the creek was so loud. I'm pretty deaf to that and slept like a baby.

Win

[River]

Not being from SW Utah, this thread title brings something else to mind. And then this:


I'm going down today to check it out.

We'll expect a trip report with pictures. :naughty: Hope everyone is safe.

[Iceaxe]

Video here:

Virgin River flooding - State of Emergency declared (http://www.fox13now.com/news/local/kstu-river-overflows-near-utah-towns-warnings-issued,0,1131833.story)



Flooding Updates as of 11:30 (21/21) from Washington County Emergency Services:

St George mayor declares state of emergency
gunlock dam intact
for all who need sand bags, Home Depot in Washington has aprox 4000 bags and a couple tons of sand
Zion National Park is now closed
Sandbags are being dropped near Enterprise Reservoir
Foot bridge out at Sunbrook golf course.
Enterprise reservoir has not yet flooded. Old highway 120 in Enterprise is being sandbagged. Shoal creek is currently about 4 feet below the new bridge.
New Harmony: the water is wearing away at the road at 2500 South in New Harmony at the bridge.
Moody wash on Gunlock road has lost 20 to 30 feet of approach to the bridge. It is not passible.
Old highway 91 Bridge has debris buildup and damming water.
1/2 of the road is washed out on Old Highway 91 at mile post 6.
There are multiple large potholes developing on Interstate 15 at approximately mile marker 32 south bound.
Zion Park Lodge is being evacuated due to slide area danger.
Central Area Road is Flooding and is closed.
Butch Cassidy/ Frontier road is closed.
There is a single Residence Threatened in Ivins.
SR-9 at Zion National Park is closed.
Cole/Manganese Road is closed.
General Steam Road is closed.
Slaughter Creek int he Motoqua Area is closed.
Virgin River Trail (St. George) is closed.

[jman]

Thanks Shane. That means Gunlock will definitely have it's overflowing waterfalls in the spring! So awesome when it does!

[denaliguide]

surf's up!!

[jman]

I'm sure mosquito cove will be flooded - hopefully it will flush out all the poo in there.

And maybe all this flooding will flush all the sand out of the Subway? wishful thinking...yup.

[Don]

Wow. KSL radio is saying Springdale, and Rockville are being evacuated for an expected dam break upriver (sorry cant remember the ranch dam name and I pulled over to post rather than look it up).
Be safe, but somebody get some video!

Sent from my Google Android SGH-T959 using Tapatalk

[tanya]

I hope my Grandma's house does not get washed away! Its right on the very edge of the East Fork. I always worry about it, but this rain has been going for days now. I am talking walk out the back door and you are on the edge of the river close!


http://www.zionnational-park.com/zion-park-rental-house.htm

[mattandersao]

I'm sure mosquito cove will be flooded - hopefully it will flush out all the poo in there.

And maybe all this flooding will flush all the sand out of the Subway? wishful thinking...yup.

39861

[Win]

I ran out at Noon and took a couple of quick pictures of LaVerkin Creek in my subdivision. You can usually walk across this in sandals and not get your feet wet!

My prayers go out to the people affected by this.

Win

http://www.fototime.com/79B0F4CA00220D5/orig.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/2D27BE324CFCD79/orig.jpg

[p40whk]

I hope my Grandma's house does not get washed away! Its right on the very edge of the East Fork. I always worry about it, but this rain has been going for days now. I am talking walk out the back door and you are on the edge of the river close!


http://www.zionnational-park.com/zion-park-rental-house.htm

Is that your Grandma's house Tanya? It's gorgeous! Wish I would have known about that when we had our group out there this summer. Camping is ok but there will be a bed and shower the next time we're out there.

Hope it does ok with all the rain, flooding is a terrible thing so I hope all are safe.

[mattandersao]

The Evacuated Zion RV Park
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The Park right by the Virgin in Springdale
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Dry Creek beds flowing into the Virgin
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Mosquito Cove3986739868

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Bridge Just outside of Virgin
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Some trapped cows near that bridge
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Up Kolob Terrace Drive
3987239873

Overlooking the River from La Verkin
3987439875

From Bridge near Pah Tempe (full size trees floating down the river)
398773987839879 39876

Looking down on Interstate Rock (road closed) near the Bridge above the Virgin in between Hurricane and St. George
3988039881398823988339884

[Brian in SLC]

Crazy bunch of water.

Thanks for the photo's!

[Iceaxe]

KSL or FOX should hire Bogley for their reporters.... the stuff you guys have provided is as good or better then what I've seen on the news.

Thanks for posting. :2thumbs:

[mattandersao]

KSL or FOX should hire Bogley for their reporters.... the stuff you guys have provided is as good or better then what I've seen on the news.
Thanks for posting. :2thumbs:

I was "evacuated" out of the national park, well ok they wouldnt let me in. Which left me with several hours to rubberneck the Virgin River.

[blueeyes]

Wow

Sent from my T-Mobile myTouch 3G using Tapatalk

[Scott Card]

KSL or FOX should hire Bogley for their reporters.... the stuff you guys have provided is as good or better then what I've seen on the news.

Thanks for posting. :2thumbs: X2. Great stuff. Much better than what I have seen on the news.

[Iceaxe]

I'm not positive, but I believe this is the dam that is threatened.

http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=37.145626,-112.98839&z=14&t=h&hl=en

[mattandersao]

I believe that is correct!
The news is reporting that if it is a catastrophic failure (the dam) it could increase the flow up to 50,000 CFS...."The peak flow rate through the Grand Canyon after construction of the dam was reduced to 50,000 cfs (http://www.bobspixels.com/kaibab.org/misc/gc_misc.htm#cfs) on rare occasions and is normally around 30,000 cfs (http://www.bobspixels.com/kaibab.org/misc/gc_misc.htm#cfs). "

[asdf]

very nice!

[mattandersao]

Looks like the dam is going to hold

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/50916856-76/dam-county-utah-state.html.csp

[dbaxter]

39885 Riverside Drive

[asdf]

Flooding along SR-9 also forced closure of Zions National Park

wait where?

[oldno7]

Just back, what an epic.
Heres a start

[oldno7]

Sum mor

[oldno7]

1) Zion River resort
2) Off the Rockville Bridge
3) House on the bend between Rockville and Tree's Farm
4) Canyon Junction Bridge, looking up river
5) Canyon Juntion Bridge towards the Watchman
6) LOL

[oldno7]

few moor

1) Just off the Highway
2) North Cr. Were the houses got flooded in 05
3) Waterfall just above the left fork trailhead

[oldno7]

Last for now

1) Ash Cr. Just entering Toquerville
2) LaVerkin Cr. Bottom of Cholla Ranch
3) Barn on far side of river in Virgin
4) Mosquito Cove
5) Upriver off the Rockville Bridge
6) House on the river just below Tree's Ranch

[tanya]

Yes, my Grandma use to live there when she was alive. The center is the cabin she gave birth to her children in. 2 of the cabins are the original ones from Zion Canyon. She built all that into her home. Even when she was alive she rented the outer rooms to guests. Now we rent the entire house. Its a great place for groups to stay. I thought about using it for a Bogleyfest before. Perhaps the next one!

If its still there after this week! We checked it many times today, and so far its okay. The motel next to it is taking a beating to the little land behind that. That is where 2 of my Grandma's kids drowned in a flash flood about 1940.


Great photos Kurt! Thanks for posting them!

My Grandma's history
http://www.zionnational-park.com/hist.htm

[Robert Lefkow]

A few from St George

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[Robert Lefkow]

And a few from Zion on Sunday
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[tanya]

:eek2::eek2::eek2::eek2::eek2::eek2::eek2::eek2::e ek2::eek2::eek2::eek2:

Wow! What a GREAT GREAT GREAT ZION Photograph!!!!

Not sure how to copy it to this post, but the 3rd from the bottom. Love it!


That last one too. Dang! We are getting some real photographers in here. I need to retire my old camera. lol

[CarpeyBiggs]

:eek2:

awesome stuff guys.

[marfot.com]

Please look some spherical panoramas of small flood in Zion NP in august 2010:
http://www.gigapano.net/pano/zion/flood.html
Be patient, panorama is 3.5 MB big.

[Ryebrye]

Nice :) I'm jealous of all you locals. Anyone want to take an inflatable kayak and go hop in the subway? I keep trying to get a permit but their site is down for maintenance!!!

:banana::roflmao1:

(I'm mostly kidding... I'd look into it more seriously if I wasn't busy with christmas family plans - and after looking into it seriously would probably not end up going)

[p40whk]

Nice :) I'm jealous of all you locals. Anyone want to take an inflatable kayak and go hop in the subway? I keep trying to get a permit but their site is down for maintenance!!!

:banana::roflmao1:

(I'm mostly kidding... I'd look into it more seriously if I wasn't busy with christmas family plans - and after looking into it seriously would probably not end up going)

Be interesting to see how the iconic log holds up with all this flooding.

[tanya]

Oh no! Not the log.

I think we should set up a wager. I am betting its still there at the end of the week! :lol8:

[Deathcricket]

Nothing can move the log!!! :lol8:

[mattandersao]

Nothing can move the log!!! :lol8:

39913
Chuck Norris?

[Deathcricket]

That log is actually a discarded Chuck Norris toothpick. :lol8:

[accadacca]

From NWS. Yikes.

...THE FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM MST THURSDAY FOR WESTERN KANE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES... AT 1004 AM MST... SOUTHERN UTAH WATERWAYS HAVE DECLINED SINCE THE AFTERNOON HOURS ON TUESDAY. HOWEVER ADDITIONAL PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS OF 2 INCHES AT THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS...AND 1 INCH AT LOWER ELEVATIONS ARE FORECAST THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING. WITH THE ADDITIONAL RAINFALL...RIVERS...STREAMS...DRY WASHES...AND SLOT CANYONS WILL ONCE AGAIN RISE. THE LEVELS ON THESE WATER COURSES ARE FORECAST TO REACH SMALLER PEAKS THAN THOSE OBSERVED ON TUESDAY...BUT FLOW AT VERY SIGNIFICANT LEVELS. AT TIMES...PRECIPITATION MAY BE INTENSE WITH THIS LATEST SEGMENT OF STORMS MOVING THROUGH THE AREA. AS A RESULT...SOME OF THESE WATERWAYS WILL RECEIVE SIGNIFICANT RAPID RISES IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE NORTH FORK VIRGIN RIVER WHICH FLOWS THROUGH ZION NATIONAL PARK IS FORECAST TO RISE TO 4000 CFS AT 6PM WEDNESDAY. THIS RIVER PEAKED AT 5340 CFS ON TUESDAY AT 1 PM. TYPICALLY...THE NORTH FORK FLOWS AT 150 CFS. DUE TO THE HIGHER FLOWS A HISTORIC LANDSLIDE ADJACENT TO THE RIVER HAS EXPERIENCED MOVEMENT AND IS BEING WATCHED CLOSELY BY THE ZION NATIONAL PARK STAFF. THE VIRGIN RIVER NEAR THE TOWN OF VIRGIN IS CURRENTLY FLOWING AT 2841 CFS AS OF WEDNESDAY MORNING...AND IS FORECAST TO RISE TO 7400 CFS BY 9 PM WEDNESDAY. THE PEAK IN THIS AREA ON THE VIRGIN RIVER REACHED 8500 CFS AT 11 AM ON TUESDAY. THE VIRGIN RIVER NEAR THE TOWN OF HURRICANE IS CURRENTLY FLOWING AT 5391 CFS AS OF 1030 AM ON WEDNESDAY MORNING. THE RIVER IS FORECAST TO PEAK AT 9000 CFS AT MIDNIGHT THURSDAY MORNING...MUCH LOWER THAN THE PEAK OF 13600 CFS ON TUESDAY AT 10 AM. TYPICALLY...THIS STRETCH OF RIVER FLOWS AT 70 CFS. THE SANTA CLARA RIVER NEAR THE TOWN OF GUNLOCK IS CURRENTLY FLOWING AT LOWER LEVELS THAN TUESDAY PEAK LEVELS. THE RIVER GAGING NETWORK ON THE SANTA CLARA HAS BEEN DAMAGED DUE TO THE FLOOD FLOWS...AND EXACT FLOW MEASUREMENTS ARE CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE. IT IS SAFE TO SAY THAT THE RIVER IS FLOWING AT MUCH REDUCED LEVELS WEDNESDAY MORNING...BUT WILL RISE AGAIN TODAY TO VERY HIGH LEVELS...BUT LOWER THAN TUESDAYS PEAK. THE VIRGIN RIVER NEAR THE TOWN OF BLOOMINGTON IS ALSO CURRENTLY FLOWING AT LOWER LEVELS THAN TUESDAYS PEAK OF 15822 CFS...BUT WILL ALSO RISE TO A PEAK FLOW LEVEL OF 13000 CFS BY 1 AM THURSDAY MORNING. THE FLOW AT THIS AREA OF THE VIRGIN RIVER IS BELOW THE CONFLUENCE OF THE SANTA CLARA RIVER AND THE VIRGIN RIVER. THE BEAVER DAM WASH EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT FLOOD DAMAGE JUST SOUTH OF THE UTAH BORDER INTO ARIZONA AT THE TOWN OF LITTLEFIELD. FOUR HOMES WERE ERODED OFF OF THEIR FOUNDATIONS AND WERE LOST. FLOWS ON THE BEAVER DAM WASH PEAKED AT 8700 CFS AT 10 AM TUESDAY. WEDNESDAY'S PEAK IS FORECAST TO RISE TO 4000 CFS...LESS THAN HALF OF THE VOLUME OBSERVED ON TUESDAY. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THOUGH THAT THE BEAVER DAM WASH'S CHANNEL HAS EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT EROSION... AND THE WATERWAY HAS CHANGED ITS COURSE. FLOOD DAMAGE TO THE HOMES WAS A DIRECT RESULT OF THIS CHANNEL MOVEMENT...AND ADDITIONAL MOVEMENT CAN BE EXPECTED TODAY. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT ALTHOUGH THE WEDNESDAY'S PEAK FLOWS ARE FORECAST TO BE LOWER THAN TUESDAYS...SLOT CANYONS...DRY WASHES...SMALL STREAMS...AND MAINSTEM RIVERS WILL ALL BE AT VERY DANGEROUS LEVELS THROUGHOUT THE NIGHTTIME HOURS AND INTO EARLY THURSDAY MORNING. GREAT CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN WHEN VENTURING NEAR THESE WATERWAY. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. FLOOD WATERS ARE USUALLY DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS POWERFUL ENOUGH TO SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED ROADS MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN. ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS WILL BE ISSUED AS CONDITIONS EVOLVE. &&

[tanya]

MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. FLOOD WATERS ARE USUALLY DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS POWERFUL ENOUGH TO SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD.


That is interesting. I have not ventured out yet today, but its sure looks cloudy out my window. Perhaps snow today?

[Jammer]

Here are a few more from yesterday in the Virgin River Gorge on I-15. It's the highest I've ever seen, but one could tell the water had been quite a bit higher.

- Jamal

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39939

[tanya]

Dry here on the east side of Zion. The rain has even washed the snow away. My kids were playing basketball on the court in the backyard in the nice, warm sun today. Perhaps all the damage that is going to be done, is done?

[NevadaAngler1]

Thanks Shane. That means Gunlock will definitely have it's overflowing waterfalls in the spring! So awesome when it does!


So does Gunlock have any fish after the new dam was built?

[accadacca]

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uG__gs2Zlgk/TwV283elhSI/AAAAAAAABTs/eQzTXSyH-d8/s1600/throwback-thursday.gif