Setting The Scene...

In September 2013, heavy rainfall caused massive flooding that sweep through Eldorado Canyon State Park and surrounding areas. What started off as a gentle rain quickly turned into a downpour that did not stop for days. Rivers overflowed their banks, streets flooded, and many trails were washed out. After several days of rainfall and flooding in Eldorado Canyon State Park, the heavy rainfall finally stopped and the rivers receded back within their banks. However, the flooding altered the habitat leaving behind massive piles of debris and altered landscapes. These floods were a historic event that impacted over 150 miles of land and human and natural communities from Estes Park to Fort Collins, and Boulder to Colorado Springs. It was a challenging time for people and the environment.

The Impacts of a Flood

The water level rises and water becomes very fast-moving.

• • • The homes of animals that live on the riverbank are flooded and destroyed.

    • Animals that burrow (or dig holes in the ground) to live likely drown in the flood.

    • Many animals that live in the river are forcibly moved downstream. Only strong swimmers survive.

Debris is left behind.

• • • Large boulders and trees are washed downstream, disrupting the habitat of many animals.

    • Debris is washed into the river and destroys vegetation in the river that is an important food source and habitat for fish and other aquatic life.

The riverbank erodes.

• • • The river becomes cloudy and murky. This makes it harder for animals living in the river to find food.

    • Sediment buildup can also clog the gills of fish and bury small insects.

    • Sediment and debris in the river can also decrease dissolved oxygen levels, which makes it harder for aquatic life to survive.

Trees are knocked down.

• • • Birds and other animals that live in trees lose their home.

    • Some species may have climbed trees to escape the high water. Many of these trees may be knocked down eventually by the flood.

    • Trees found here include: plains and narrow-leaf cottonwood, Rocky Mountain maple, boxelder maple, chokecherry, American plum, grey alder, red birch and peachleaf willow.

Streamside plants are washed away.

• • • Many shrubs and berries that are an important food source for animals are washed away.

    • Shrubs, small trees, and bushes where many animals live along the river are uprooted and washed away.

    • This includes little bluestem, blue and side-oats grama, needle-and-thread grass, pine dropseed, prairie junegrass, western wheatgrass, purple three-awn and desert olive.

Pollutants are washed into the water.

• • • The drinking water for most animals is contaminated.

Life cycles are disrupted.

• • • Animals preparing for hibernation (or already hibernating) may not survive the flood if they are already burrowing underground, roosting, or in their winter den. This includes some small rodents, bears, and bats.

    • Depending on the timing of the mating seasons for these animals, breeding may be disturbed or the young of the year may not survive.

High water eventually recedes.

• • • Debris in the form of large trees, branches, trash, and boulders is left behind.

    • The course of the river is significantly altered.