A Stick Artist's View of the Spring Flooding of the Cache La Poudre River - Part 2

This spring with a massive snow melt in the Rocky Mountains and unusually wet weather, water began to rise in the Cache La Poudre River--and rise and rise.  

I noted in my diary that the water was higher and faster, even covering a sandbar near the the County Road 13 bridge near our house on May 22.      

It is not unusual to have spring flooding but this year's water was so abundant that we here along the banks of the Poudre experienced flooding eerily similar to or above (in many areas) what we had during last September's flooding, which was often referred to as a 100-year flood of epic proportions.

Of course I was out there documenting the event, my camera in one hand and Molly's leash in the other.  Here are some images I hope will convey the incredible, untamed power of water, a reminder that Mother Nature makes her own rules.

As you read in my post, Part 1, I am a "stick artist" and had to laugh at the sheer wonder of it all.  All winter I had been bringing home sticks of all shapes and sizes, but often would "cache" sticks along the riverbank intending to retrieve them later.  

Well, as you might suspect, the Cache la Poudre had other ideas about that.  Those sticks I had set aside have likely traveled along the South Platte River through Nebraska, joining the North Platte River.  By now they've probably already reached the Missouri River which joins the Mississippi River (which is now flooding) and will eventually flow into the Gulf of Mexico!!!

Of course, often what Mother Nature takes away with one hand, she gives with the other.  To my sheer delight, when the waters finally subsided enough for me to explore safely along the still muddy edges, what did I discover?  A "cache" of sticks bigger and more intense than anything I had encountered after the 2013 fall flooding! Woo-hoo!!!

  
   You can see why I stood in sheer astonishment when I saw what awaits me!!

But, let me share some images to convey what happened between May 22 and June 27.  

Near County Road 13 along the Poudre River Trail was a small tree that I referred to as my "measuring tree."  It still had dried grass and bits of debris in its branches from the fall flooding and it gave me an easy visual as to how high/fast the water was flowing.

May 22, 2014

Completely underwater by June 7, 2014

 

June 18, 2014, sadly what's left of it with sandbar visible again on the opposite shore.

Along the Poudre River Trail, east of Country Road 13, the trail was nearly completely submerged by the river by May 29, 2014.

Perfect reflections looking west.

The spillway nearly indistinguishable at height of flooding.

 

The Cache la Poudre River flowing over its banks.

By June 20, the walk along the Poudre River Trail was much different.

The Cache La Poudre River back within its banks.

The spillway once again recognizable as such.

The Poudre River Trail, looking east, dry, scraped free of mud.

In my neighborhood we have been quite fortunate to only be inconvenienced by the flood waters of fall and spring.  Not so fortunate for those along other parts of the Cache La Poudre River.  For those of us near County Road 13, when the bridge closes, well...it does make for much longer round-about drives to Windsor and other places north of the river, but it also brings neighbors together, at least at first, when water covering County Road 13 is an unexpected sight.

Molly and playmate splashing along County Road 13.

 

A warm, sunny day to play in the water!

I do feel great empathy for the sand and gravel company that again (as it did in the fall) served as a reservoir for the Cache La Poudre River as it spilled out of its banks and into the deep spaces of the excavation site.  After weeks of pumping, they appear to be back in business this week.

The sand and gravel company at the corner of County Road 13 and Highway 392, filled to capacity with river water.

Thank you, sand and gravel company, for involuntarily serving as an emergency reservoir yet again.

 

After pumping, dry-ish as of June 30, 2014

As of yesterday, the Cache la Poudre still running fast with some minor flooding due to severe rainstorms in the mountains and along the foothills.

And, so the story of this beautiful river, the Cache La Poudre, continues.  The water has receded tremendously but is still wild and dangerous.  Even rafting companies are taking extra care and precautions as several have lost their lives by falling into the strong currents.

For additional flood photos see my other blog site, Whimsy Calls.