San Juan River flooding in Colorado and Navajo Nation

Heavy rainfall from a tropical storm triggered significant flooding along the San Juan River, impacting multiple regions in Colorado, the Navajo Nation, and Utah.

In Archuleta County, Colorado, mandatory evacuations were ordered for low-lying areas near the San Juan, Rio Blanco, Navajo, and Piedra rivers. The San Juan River peaked at 15.02 feet in Pagosa Springs, and local infrastructure, such as a culvert at McCabe Creek, faced damage. The American Red Cross established a shelter at the Pagosa Lakes Property Owners Association to assist those displaced.

As the flooding progressed, conditions worsened in the Navajo Nation and southeastern Utah. In Farmington, the river reached 14.1 feet, breaking a record established in 1909. In Shiprock, the river surpassed its major flood stage, inundating floodplains near U.S. Highway 64. Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren and local officials issued evacuation alerts for communities including Aneth, Montezuma Creek, and Bluff, Utah.

Emergency shelters were opened at Aneth Community School and San Juan High School. The flooding also caused environmental issues when the Bloomfield wastewater treatment plant was inundated, resulting in untreated sewage entering the river. Significant road closures were reported, including the Montezuma Creek Bridge and the Highway 160 bridge.