Private road damage piles up in El Paso County

Many private, unpaved roads and driveways washed out in flooding after the 2013 Black Forest Fire and the problem has resurfaced because of recent wet weather.

R.C. Smith, of the county’s Office of Emergency Management, said the situation affects more than 100 property owners.

“We’re just in a difficult situation,” he said.

Among the worst damage is in Ute Pass near the intersection of U.S. 24 and Pyramid Mountain Road. Flooding and erosion after May storms left a wide, long chasm in a private road connecting several driveways.

“It’s like we have to walk to a high-rise apartment to get to our homes,” Patrick Rakes, a neighbor, said. “Some days, eight cars have to park near the highway. Most of the people here are retired and elderly.”

Rakes said drainage has been a problem in the area for at least 20 years, and has been worsened by the 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire and a wet spring and summer this year.

“My concern is the water comes from the national forest,” he said. “I can’t capture the water and I can’t stop it. It’s just going to flood my property.”

Flooding and erosion have been common in Cascade this year because of constant rain and heavier-than-normal snowmelt.

“The drainage ditch on the road flooded,” Rakes said. “Another guy and I tried to maintain it, but there was too much water.”

The erosion is visible from the highway, and the damage affected drainage and utility lines.

Rakes said neighbors can’t afford the $200,000 it would cost to repair the road, and insurance doesn’t cover the damage.

Likewise, the county is limited in its ability to take action.

“Legally, we can’t repair damage on private property unless it affects public values downstream,” Smith said. “We’ve done some of that in Cascade already. But some people may not understand when they see work done on their neighbor’s property and not on their property.”

Smith said the county doesn’t get as much state funding for that purpose, as other counties receive.

“It’s emergency watershed protection,” he said.

After the Black Forest Fire, affected homeowners called 2-1-1 for help. It provided resources like machinery and volunteer labor to help restore some private roads.

“There’s no guarantee of getting help there, but it’s a good start,” Smith said. “The United Way and Catholic Charities provide resources for that.”

Smith also advised affected property owners to pay for engineering studies.

“It’s not cheap but you’ll learn how to keep water off your road,” he said. “That’s what causes the problem. It could be cheaper than repairing your road.”

Rakes said another option is for affected homeowners to be bought out by the county. He seems open to the possibility.

“We can’t sell our houses,” he said. “They’re unmarketable. Who would want them?”