Overview
- La Plata County lifted mandatory evacuations Thursday for roughly 390 homes near Vallecito Creek, allowing resident-only access with rapid tags while public access remains restricted.
- Nearly 100 homes were damaged and two were destroyed in the Vallecito area, and officials warn of ongoing hazards including debris, unstable trees, propane issues, and potential water and septic contamination.
- In Pagosa Springs, the San Juan River peaked around 12.6–12.75 feet earlier this week, its highest since about 1970, and a sewer line failure beneath U.S. 160 prompted closures and repairs.
- Gov. Jared Polis issued a disaster declaration for the region, and the state extended certain tax filing deadlines to Dec. 31 for affected residents and businesses.
- Record October rainfall fueled by Pacific systems including Hurricane Priscilla and Tropical Storm Raymond also boosted Vallecito Reservoir storage to about 56,000 acre-feet as damage assessments and cleanup continue.