Show Colorado River Hits Peak Begins to Drop Back Down Fed by swollen waters of the Dolores and Gunnison rivers the level of the Colorado river at Moab apparently hit its peak early this week ahead of schedule schedule sched sched- ule tile and began Its normal recession recession recession reces reces- sion to the low which will hit in the fall The river reached a peak o of 9 93 feet on the level marker on the old river bridge abutment before beginning its drop anc ancon and andon andon on Wednesday had slid to the eight foot mark The level at attained attained at- at tamed this year was somewhat less than that reached during the peak last year The high highwater highwater highwater water pushed well over the ten ft mark last year in one of the heaviest run off periods in recent recent re to- cent years Although the Cane Creek anticline anticline anti anti- cline dine road on the west side of ol the river was inundated early In Inthe Inthe inthe the year travel has not been stopped on the Colorado river road to Castle Valley as It has been in past years and flood floodwaters floodwaters floodwaters waters which have crept across the lower valley have not caused caused caused caus caus- ed any damage a report Indi indi- cates Since the construction of ot the new highway bridge across the Colorado river at Moab several years ears ago danger of being Isolated isolated isolated isol isol- due to floods in the river have been lessened considerably The new bridge Is several feet higher than the old three-span three 1 I Ilog lane structure and even though log jams have appeared on the bridge piers the past month state highway department crews say there is no danger of the weight damaging the bridge Constant watches had to be kept on the piers of the old bridge during the May and June high water period by state road crews Lower Moab valley a several- several thousand acre piece of low pasture pasture pas paz ture ground which is covered practically every every year with Colorado Colorado Colo Cob rado river flood waters now resembles resembles resembles re re- re- re a large lake as the waters waters wat wat- ers from the river detour through the swamp The water level has never reached serious proportions proportions the valuable land being I Ion on a somewhat higher level Coursing through ugh Moab valley Mill creek has been running in semi-flood semi stages all spring Although Although Although Al Al- though particularly high and muddy the water is not expected to cause any damage unless a heavy rain causes the level of the creek to raise unexpectedly Motorist are warned however not to attempt crossings of the creek where there are no bridges bridge or culverts Several have been I stalled making such attempts Inthe in inthe th the last few weeks Reports in indicate indicate indicate in- in that Mill creek has been losing volume the past week and should reach its normal level within a short time Peak high water for the Colo Cob rado river is usually attained during the second week in June However unusual unusually warm warm weather er in the highlands of Colorado during durin the past month have caused a fast run i Since the river stopped its upward upward up up- UP I ward trend find and began a down- down downhill downhill hill move thU drU a hazard to boaters has been eliminated It Is thought hought that the river will beIn be bein ben In n ideal condition on June 15 for forth th thc he Colorado river marathon between between be- be tween Green River and Moab |