Flooded Creek Threatens RV Park In Golden
GOLDEN, Colo. (CBS4) – An RV park is on high alert amid concerns over flooding on a frozen creek.
Water overflowed from Clear Creek in Golden late Saturday night. The concern is that it's just creating more ice over the next few days.
"Basically the creek is frozen over, so any new water that's coming down is spilling out over the banks and this RV park is very close to those banks. So that's why they have been put on alert but no evacuations at this time," said Karlyn Tilley, Golden Fire Department spokeswoman.
Crews plan to watch the creek over the next few days.
Weather and changes to the creek's flow could cause more problems.
"We're looking at some cold conditions with water coming down the creek that is frozen, but the water is still moving underneath the ice which presents some problems with some possible higher water coming up," said Golden Fire Chief John Bales.
The concern was so great Saturday night that 28 campers in the RV park were told to be ready to leave.
RV park resident Virgil Schmidt said the creek is six or seven feet higher than it normally is.
"The temperature's so cold," said Schmidt.
The ice is forming on the top of the creek with water still flowing underneath adding more ice every day that temperatures remain below 32 degrees.
"Our city engineer has been here 25 years and he said he's never seen conditions quite like this last night," said Bales.
The recreational path along the creek is closed and won't re-open for several days.
"Mainly the problem will be when the ice does thaw and break, all this ice and snow will come on down the creek in kind of a rapid fashion," said Bales.
Some parking lots in the area are closed as well.
