Echo Canyon, Spring Valley closed by floods
“THE good news is that we have lost no livestock and no lives.”
Those are the words of my friend Mike Reese, of Panaca, as we talked about the flooding that has beset Lincoln County for more than a week.
As a member of that county’s Board of Commissioners, Reese has been actively involved in monitoring the flood waters and their impact. Not only on residents, but also on a pair of state parks important to outdoor enthusiasts who frequent the area.
The bad news is that Echo Canyon State Park and Spring Valley State Park are both now closed due to road damage caused by the flooding. Those parks are home to two popular reservoirs: Echo Canyon and Eagle Valley. Both offer fishermen the chance to catch to catch trout, largemouth bass and crappie. And the parks are popular with campers as well.
“Okay, they’re out!” Reese said when I asked about road access to the parks.
“We had Niagara Falls in Nevada,” said Reese as he described the situation that he observed from a position near the dam that creates Echo Canyon. That seen is captured in a video he recorded that night and later shared with me. One cannot miss the roar of the water as it rushed through the dam’s emergency bypass.
There also was water covering the last stretch of the road into the dam, “and that was questionable. It eventually gave way,” Reese said. So, for the time being, the parks are inaccessible due to a lack of safe access.
To put things into perspective for those familiar with Echo Canyon State Park, Reese said the water at the upper end of the reservoir covered the road near the cliff face where the narrows begin with as much as two feet of water and nearly reached the bottom of footbridge that spans the canyon.
Just 10 miles away at Spring Valley State Park, the waters of Eagle Valley Reservoir are still covered with ice, but water from melting snow and a passing rain storm were backed up well beyond the dam that marks the north end of the meadows above the reservoir early in the week. Reese said it is the most water he has ever seen in Lincoln County.
Ironically, as Reese and I talked on Tuesday, snow was falling for a third day and temperatures had once again grown cold. He expected another five inches of snow in the town of Pioche and even more in the mountains above Spring Valley State Park.
The storm was expected to last through the Wednesday. What that means for the receding water levels remains to be seen.
For those who want to keep tabs on developments at the two parks and the surrounding area, Lincoln County Emergency Management is posting updates on its Facebook page.
In a Facebook post dated March 19, LCEM said, “The Eagle Valley and Echo (Canyon) dams are in good condition and water levels have started to drop at both reservoirs and standing water above Spring Valley State Park. The damage to Echo spillway has been evaluated and plans to repair will be addressed. State dam engineers have evaluated the spillway and dam integrity and have reported them to be safe.”
The big concern at this point is the emergency spillway, said Reese. It is going to need substantial work.
In the meantime, outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy spending time at Echo Canyon or Eagle Valley will need to exercise patience. While road crews plan on making temporary repairs to critical roadways, they are not anxious to put down pavement until the potential for flooding has completely abated.
On the upside, the moisture Southern Nevada is receiving should have a positive impact on the habitat and the critters that depend on the seasonal green up it is bringing. “I think it’s going to be really green this spring, and I’ve got my fingers crossed for some pine nuts,” Reese said.
Freelance writer Doug Nielsen is a conservation educator for the Nevada Department of Wildlife. His “In the Outdoors” column is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NDOW. Any opinions he states in his column are his own. Find him on Facebook at @dougwritesoutdoors. He can be reached at intheoutdoorslv@gmail.com