Big thompson river in moraine park in the rocky mountain national park. Man survives 1976 big thompson flood, still recovering from loss in. Facebook is showing information to help you better understand the purpose of a page. The big thompson flood ranks among the deadliest of colorados recorded floods. Big thompson flood one of the most deadly flash floods in colorados recorded history jar. Jul 31, 2012 the big thompson flood of 1976 was the deadliest flash flood in colorados recorded history. In the summer of 1976, when i was 7 years old, the river i lived near the big thompson suffered a flash flood of unheard of proportions. Officer michael owen conley, estes park police department. An aerial photo shows the path of the big thompson river during the flood of 1976. The big thompson flood an eyewitness account applied. According to, it was the height of tourist season in big thompson canyon, a popular camping area an hour west of the city of denver, colorado. Larimer county officials said the normally low, placid big thompson river basin from estes park to loveland turned into a torrent. The big thompson river is a tributary of the south platte river, approximately 78 miles 123 km long, in the u.
When a foot of rain fell over big thompson canyon in 1976, it killed 144. Route 34 runs through the canyon, adjacent to the river in many spots. Unusual weather patterns allowed the huge storm system to stall over the area as it dumped its load. On july 31, 1976, the big thompson canyon was filled with residents and visitors. Oct 07, 2016 2016 marks the 40th anniversary of the most deadly natural disaster in colorados history. Deadly big thompson flood devastates colorado in this archival report from aug. Big thompson canyon, colorado department of transportation, estes park, highway 34. Water levels swiftly rose over nine feet, cut away much of the river banks,and relocated the. The headwaters of the big thompson river begin in forest canyon within rocky. Deadly big thompson flood devastates colorado video. Other sections of river have also responded quite well to the restoration.
The big thompson river bridge iii on us 34 at milepost 85. Jerry shaffer, a survivor of the 1976 big thompson flood, reminisces at his. Often, human actions contributed to the devastating effects of flooding. The response to the big thompson flood disaster of july 31, 1976, has been a.
Colorado is more than familiar with flash flooding. Big thompson canyon flash flood 1976 national weather service. Big thompson river missouri river drainage basin landform. Nine people drowned during the flooding, which was a combination of flash floods and river floods. Download a pdf of flood of 31 july 1976 in big thompson canyon, colorado by the national research council for free. In the 1930s, the colorado state highway department used new deal money to construct a modern highway in big thompson canyon. Big thompson canyon struck again by tragic flooding. Guide to the david mccomb big thompson flood collection.
I was in college at the university of northern colorado and was working at village. May 18, 2018 big thompson canyon to reopen after years of repairs from flood damage may 18, 2018 at 9. It was the saturday of the weekend commemorating colorado. Access the rocky mountain anglers river reports for uptodate information on stream flows, weather, and fishing conditions. A flood of memories the big thompson flood of 1976 part 1. The normally tranquil river turned into a raging torrent, cresting 20 to 30 feet 6 to 9 m above normal and reached speeds of up to 50 miles per hour 80 kmhr.
Big thompson canyon to reopen after years of repairs from. The 1976 big thompson flood stands as the worst natural disaster in colorados recorded history. The flood in the big thompson canyon destroyed 316 homes, 45 mobile homes, 52 businesses, and 438 automobiles. The big thompson river turned into a torrent, drowning. Not only can you mail us your order form andor donation, you can also call 9706676465 or fax 970667 6465.
All of the stories of where, when and what they were doing that night, are both heart wrenching and amazing to hear. May 11, 2011 this case sticks in my mind because of the intensity of the water as it rushed from the rocky mountains into big thompson canyon in colorado. On july 31, 1976, a violent rainstorm sent rushing water through the big thompson canyon just west of loveland. Role of the state in developing warning systems in colorado. Jul 29, 2010 on july 31, 1976, during the celebration of colorado s centennial, the big thompson canyon was the site of devastating flash flood. Shaffer, a survivor of the 1976 flood of the big thompson river, is still. Aug 26, 20 in the summer of 1976, when i was 7 years old, the river i lived near the big thompson suffered a flash flood of unheard of proportions. This case sticks in my mind because of the intensity of the water as it rushed from the rocky mountains into big thompson canyon in colorado. The big thompson flood of 1976 was the deadliest flash flood in colorado s recorded history. When water is high whitewater kayakers may paddle it in the canoyn below drake see colorado rivers and creeks. The big thompson river originates in rocky mountain national park and flows in a southeast, northeast, and eastsoutheast direction onto the colorado piedmont before. The 1976 big thompson river flood offers an example.
Approximately 4,000 people were in the canyon during colorados centennial weekend, most of them from outside the area. Usgs current conditions for usgs 06741510 big thompson. Over twelve inches fell in a fourhour period leading to a wall of water that swept away everything from powerlines and trees to cars and homes. All of the stories of where, when and what they were doing that night, are both heart wrenching and amazing to. The big thomson river is known for disastrous flooding of 1976 rather than kayaking. But the torrents did, once again, rip down the big thompson canyon. On july 31, 1976, during the celebration of colorado s centennial, the big thompson canyon was the site of devastating flash flood. This essay uses topographic map evidence to interpret landform origins in the big thompson riverlittle thompson river drainage divide area in the colorado front range. The big thompson flood has been called the worst natural disaster in colorado history. Devastation also occurred along the north fork big thompson river in the vicinity of glen haven. Jul 29, 2016 an aerial photo shows the path of the big thompson river during the flood of 1976. Flooding in colorado articles colorado encyclopedia. The colorado water conservation board cwcb conducted a flood risk analysis of floodaffected streams within communities most impacted by the 20 flood event. Cabin lodged on a private bridge just below drake, looking upstream.
Notice the usgs water resources mission areas priority is to maintain the safety and wellbeing of our communities, including providing critical situational awareness in times of flooding in all 50 u. It is the main link between the plains and rocky mountain national park. See the article in its original context from august 2, 1976, page 47 buy reprints. Nearly 300 coloradans have been killed by flash flooding since the year 1900. However, i couldnt find anybody who paddled the lower big t below loveland. Big thompson canyon struck again by tragic flooding the. Big thompson flood, colorado usgs publications repository.
Big thompson canyon, colorado department of transportation, estes park. There is little wiggle room in the narrow and rugged big thompson canyon. The flood crest on the big thompson river moved through the 7. David mccomb big thompson flood collection colorado state.
Among the responses was a phone call from merrit jensen of corvallis, who lived through one of the biggest and deadliest floods in u. Flood of 31 july 1976 in big thompson canyon, colorado the. The flood a complex system of thunderstorms produced intense rainfall from about 6 to 7 pm mdt on july 31, 1976, in the front range foothills of colorados big thompson river fig. The flood demolished homes and businesses and claimed the lives of visitors and residents alike. The rain started in the evening of july 31 and by the wee hours of august 1, you had 12 inches of rain in this narrow canyon. Jan 26, 2004 page 1 of 2 big thompson flood 1976 posted in rocky mountain national park news and information.
Big thompson flood 1976 rocky mountain national park. Page 1 of 2 big thompson flood 1976 posted in rocky mountain national park news and information. In june 1976, just before the flood, the fulltime canyon population. On july 31, between 12 and 14 inches of rain fell over a fourhour period in the mountains around the resort town of estes park. Examine one of the most deadly floods in colorado history. Officer michael conley and trooper hugh purdy, of the colorado state patrol, drowned while assisting victims of the big thompson flood. In a matter of two hours, the flood killed 145 residents and vacationers, and destroyed 418 homes and 152 businesses. Loveland, co devastating canyon flooding, aug 1976. Estes and waltonia and became a raging torrent of water, trees, debris. Sheriffs department northern colorado water big thompson canyon. On july 31, 1976, the big thompson canyon, just west of loveland, colorado, was the scene of a flash flood which claimed 144 lives. The night of july 31, 1976, a large storm system caused torrential rains over the upper section of the river. Colorado experience big thompson flood season 4 episode.
Officials said a wall of water estimated at 10 or 12 feet tore through the canyon and downstream areas after dark saturday. The flood a complex system of thunderstorms produced intense rainfall from about 6 to 7 pm mdt on july 31, 1976, in the front range foothills of colorado s big thompson river fig. The big thompson flood of 1976 was the deadliest flash flood in colorados recorded history. Big thompson canyon to reopen after years of repairs from flood damage may 18, 2018 at 9. The big thompson canyon flood of july 31, 1976 was colorado s worst flash flood in. Jul 25, 2016 forty years ago on july 31, as coloradoans and tourists celebrated the states centennial, between 12 and 14 inches of rain fell over a fourhour period in the mountains below the resort town of estes park, killing 143 people. On july 31, 1976, during the celebration of colorados centennial, the big thompson canyon was the site of devastating flash flood. On the big thompson river, from just west of glen comfort downstream to loveland there was almost complete devastation. On july 31, between 12 and 14 inches of rain fell over a fourhour period in the mountains around.
Id be interested in any literature anyone has regarding the big thompson flood. Aug 02, 1976 65 killed as rains flood colorado recreation area. Water from the july 15, 1982, lawn lake flood flows past the intersection of elkhorn avenue and riverside drive in midestes park, across from bond park. Forty years ago on july 31, as coloradoans and tourists celebrated the states centennial, between 12 and 14 inches of rain fell over a fourhour period in the mountains below the resort town of estes park, killing 143 people. The flood washed out all stream and rain gages so accurate measurements were not possible. Flash floods and warnings national weather service. Combine the celebration of colorados statehood centennial with the grandeur of summer in the colorado rockies and you can well imagine the scene along highway 34 in the big thompson canyon as july 1976 ended. Site of devastating flood big thompson canyon 7 of 8 colorado. Officer conley was off duty at the time and in the area of big thompson canyon when he heard of the need for help. Fishing for brown and rainbow trout can be good to great almost year round.
If anyone has any books, articles, etc the they could copy or send to me id be willing to buy. It is one of several destructive floods in the united states that has shown the necessity of conducting research to determine the causes and effects of floods. Sep 10, 2010 among the responses was a phone call from merrit jensen of corvallis, who lived through one of the biggest and deadliest floods in u. On july 31, 1976, during the celebration of colorados centennial, the big thompson canyon was the site of a devastating flash flood that. These floods were much more extensive the the big thompson canyon flood of 1976, but because of timely and accurate warnings, many people stayed out of harms way and lives were saved. I was pretty little when i heard about the colorado flash flood, the one that. Remembering the one colorado flood to rule them allstill vice. Big thompson canyon flood the big thompson canyon located east of the town of estes park has steep walls of bedrock and easily eroded soil. Big thompson flood when the skies opened on july 31, 1976, few anticipated this summer storm would result in the deadliest flash flood in colorados recorded history. However, i couldnt find anybody who paddled the lower big t. The big thompson canyon the big thompson canyon is one of the most scenic in the rocky mountain region. Exercise 6 streams and flooding central texas college. The big thompson river below olympus dam is a famous trout river which historically attracted thousands of anglers each year. Within estes park, this included the big thompson river, fall river, black canyon creek, dry gulch, and fish creek.