Lawn Lake Dam was an earthen dam in Rocky Mountain National Park, United States that failed on July 15, 1982, at about 6 a.m., in an event known as the flood of 1982. Shortly after 6 a.m. on July 15, 1982, the Lawn Lake Dam underwent a catastrophic failure, and for a brief period the Roaring River let the world know how it got its name. As an added bonus, rain barrels allow an eco-friendly way to water your gardens and lawn when it’s dry out. • coordinates. Fast and free shipping free returns cash on delivery available on eligible purchase. I was really glad to find him. The forested banks of Roaring River where scoured away in a landslide of … EMBED. Reference Telephone: 720-865-1821; Mon: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. In 1975, a Colorado dam inspector hiked the half-dozen miles to the Lawn Lake dam and reported that it was in need of a thorough inspection after the snow melted. The Colorado State Engineer determined that the probable cause of the dam failure was deterioration of lead caulking on the joint between the outlet pipe and the gate valve leading to internal erosion of the earth-fill dam. [1], Over the years the road that had been cut to permit construction of the dam fell into disrepair and ceased to exist. This page was last edited on 9 June 2020, at 17:23. After passing the Ypsilon Lake trail about a quarter mile farther, this trail largely follows the 1903 wagon road used to make the old dam at Lawn Lake. Can't find what you're looking for? When I heard the news in Vail, it reminded me of the Big Thompson Flood of 1976, the summer we moved from the midwest to Vail. Shortly after 6 a.m. on July 15, 1982, the Lawn Lake Dam underwent a catastrophic failure, and for a brief period the Roaring River let the world know how it got its name. The flood continued down Fall River and hit the Cascade Dam which stored water to run a hydroelectric plant about a mile (2 km) downstream. 30 million cubic feet of water tore through the landscape, ripping trees out by their roots, and sweeping tons of boulders and other debris along in its passing. Fortunately, this dam was able to withstand the added pressure, but the sheer volume meant that the dam was quickly overtopped, causing a secondary flood surge. After our short hike and learning about the Lawn Lake Flood, we got ourselves on the Trail Ridge Road. He quickly backed toward the entrance, pulling his truck across the road to prevent a Michigan tourist from entering the lot. When all was said and done, the flood did over 31 million dollars in damage to Estes Park alone, most of which wasn’t covered by insurance. On July 31, between 12 and 14 inches of rain fell over a … Stanford Libraries' official online search tool for books, media, journals, databases, government documents and more. When the waters reached the broader valley of Fall River at Horseshoe Park they spread out and slowed, leaving behind a large alluvial fan of debris. The sudden release of 30 million cubic feet (849,000 m3) of water resulted in a flash flood that killed three people camping in the park and caused $31 million in damage to the town of Estes Park, Colorado and other downstream areas. Services . 592 (C.D. “Covering the 48 miles between Estes Park on the park’s east side and Grand Lake on the west, Trail Ridge Road more than lives up to its advanced billing. At just over a mile from the trailhead hikers will reach the steep banks of the Roaring River where you'll witness some of the destruction from the infamous Lawn Lake Flood. Lawn Lake was originally a natural lake with a surface area of 16.4 acres (6.6 ha), located at an elevation of approximately 11,000 feet (3,400 m) in the Rocky Mountains. Mule Deer: Rocky Mountain National Park . Navigate; Linked Data; Dashboard; Tools / Extras; Stats; Share . About a mile up, I stopped to photograph this good looking male hairy woodpecker. Advanced embedding details, examples, and help! They were part of a large group in Horseshoe Park. 3. As it happened, the source of the problem was the Lawn Lake Dam. Cascade Dam failed from the onslaught and added its waters to the flood. Tag Archives: Lawn Lake Flood Rocky Weekend. It fell within the National Park boundary when the Park was established in 1915. A ton of rain can cause issues with your soil, such as soil erosion, which is when the soil begins to wear away. [5] In Estes Park the flood joined the Big Thompson River and flowed into Lake Estes on the eastern edge of the city. This notably large lake offers exceptional fishing and numerous backcountry sites. Twenty-five years after the accident, the extent of the former reservoir is still clearly evident, and at the mouth of the lake, the start of the Roaring River flows through the location of the former dam. Chris, thank you for this short but informative story on the Lawn Lake Flood. By the time those tasks were completed, they were standing in rushing, muddy water up to their knees. On July 15, 1982, the Lawn Lake dam failed catastrophically. Denver Public Library. The Lawn Lake Flood Open the "Lawn Lake Flood" folder and double click the "?" icon next to the Lawn Lake Flood placemark to fly to it. More information…. Physical characteristics. It was clear to the Park Service that they were dealing with an emergency, but they didn’t yet know what exactly the emergency was, nor how severe. 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