| Episode Narrative |
The high waters at the confluence of the Lamar River and Soda Butte Creek combined to undercut and damage a 200-foot-section of Yellowstone National Park's Northeast Entrance road. The first extended period of warm weather caused melting of a large late-season snowpack which increased flow in both channels. Flow on the Lamar River peaked on Friday, June 24, at around 11,000 cfs and crested near 9.5 feet. Only the eastbound lane of the road was impacted, but the erosion still necessitated complete closure of the road on June 24, while repairs were made. A second smaller section of the road was also damaged by the high water downstream from the larger washout. Crews used nearly 100 loads of rock and fill dirt to repair and stabilize the road which reopened to traffic the evening of Wednesday, June 29. |
