Unexpected Flood Debris

Unexpected Flood Debris

Once storm sewers filled with sediment and debris, flooding on the streets got worse.

Unexpected Flood Debris

After the flood waters subsided, plows were brought in to clear the streets. Mounds of sandy soil and rocks lined the streets throughout Boulder and in many areas, the sediment was piled more than a foot deep on the right-of-way between the street and sidewalk.

Unexpected Flood Debris

Pine logs washed down from the mountains above Boulder were stripped of bark and deeply scarred by the time they wound up on the city’s streets.

Unexpected Flood Debris

Lines of wooden flotsam mark what had been the edge of the floodwaters.

Unexpected Flood Debris

Unexpected Flood Debris

Debris that floated was left piled wherever it reached a barrier that kept it from flowing any farther.

Unexpected Flood Debris

Unexpected Flood Debris

Sidewalks had to be shoveled to make them passable.

Unexpected Flood Debris

Unexpected Flood Debris

Unexpected Flood Debris

Unexpected Flood Debris

Formerly lush green lawns were buried with sandy soil and strewn with rocks washed out of nearby creek beds.

Unexpected Flood Debris

Unexpected Flood Debris

Unexpected Flood Debris

Part of this yard was filled with sand a full foot deep which gave the appearance that deciduous trees were growing on a beach.

Unexpected Flood Debris

Unexpected Flood Debris

Unexpected Flood Debris

This apartment house was right in the active floodway and was pummeled with rocks tumbled along by strong water currents.

Unexpected Flood Debris

Unexpected Flood Debris

Unexpected Flood Debris

Unexpected Flood Debris

This urban alleyway was deeply filled with sediment, even after a plow went through.

Unexpected Flood Debris

Unexpected Flood Debris

Unexpected Flood Debris

Unexpected Flood Debris

A section of this mountainside gave way in a mudslide after the soil was oversaturated with record amounts of rainfall. It’s not clear whether soil from the slide inundated the nearest residential property a few hundred yards below or if an adjacent irrigation ditch was to blame.

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