News Release
Hikers, campers impacted by Icicle Valley road closure
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USDA Forest Service
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See June 24 update at bottom of page
May 21, 2008
A drastic change in weather patterns created rapid snow melt, triggering a massive debris slide that closed roads and campgrounds in the upper Icicle Valley this past weekend. The debris slide carried trees, mud and huge boulders into Icicle Creek, effectively pushing the already flood swollen waters over the main Icicle Road (FS Road #7600), approximately 15 miles southwest of Leavenworth, WA.
The slide began high above the Icicle Valley, and then turned into a torrent of mud and debris that funneled down Doctor Creek, a steep creek drainage located near Victoria and Ruth Lakes, tearing out portions of FS Road #7605. Several visitors were temporarily stranded because of the blocked road, but all were evacuated and no injuries were reported.
Roads and campground closures will remain in place until flood waters recede, damage can be assessed, and repairs made. It will be late June before Icicle Creek recedes enough to assess extent of road damage. Access to several major trailheads and dispersed camping along the Icicle main road are displaced. The entire Icicle drainage receives about one-half million visitors each year.
Closed indefinitely are:
- FS Road #7605, at the bridge where it crosses Doctor Creek.
- Icicle Road #7600, at Ida Creek.
- Chatter Creek, Rock Island and Blackpine campgrounds.
- Trailhead accesses to upper portions of the Icicle Valley are impacted. Access via Eightmile Road into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness is not affected.
Icicle Road under water
Icicle Road under water just past Ida Creek Campground
Icicle Creek flows across road
Landslide on Doctor Creek road (bridge in background)
Landslide on Doctor Creek road
Aerial view of Doctor Creek road washout (bridge to right).
Click photo for larger version.
Aerial view of debris flow, showing Icicle Creek backed up and diverted onto the road.
Click photo for larger version.
District Ranger Vaughan Marable said, “The long, cool spring kept the heavy snow pack from melting, and then the sudden change to very warm weather created an unstable environment, resulting in massive amounts of water and sediment to move swiftly down both Doctor and Icicle Creeks. Thankfully, no one was injured.” He added, “It is unfortunate this occurred just before Memorial Day, luckily there were relatively few people in the area, otherwise, this could have had far more serious consequences. We have no estimate on how long the road will be closed; the damage is extensive and substantial.”
Update - June 24, 2008
The debris flows continue to block Icicle Creek at two points, resulting in backing-up water that was redirected onto approximately a 0.5 mile segment of the Icicle Road. Three campgrounds, nine trailheads in the Upper Icicle Valley and portions of two roads remain inaccessible to motorized vehicles. Three significant trail bridges and one double lane highway bridge are also inaccessible in the upstream side of the debris dams.
High water continues to hamper full assessment of damage to Icicle Valley Road ( FS Road #7600). Preliminary assessments are occurring with potential options for reestablishing motorized access to the Upper Icicle Valley.
Some Questions and Answers:
Q. What caused this?
A. An aerial flight revealed that the torrent of mud and debris flow originated from an old road located on the steep hillside across from Icicle creek. The road probably failed because it was water saturated due to the high volume of snow melt. This particular road ( Doctor Creek Road) had been closed but not yet decommissioned.
Q. Once the water recedes, Icicle Valley Road will be accessible, right?
A. The debris fans from the Doctor Creek debris flows have completely filled the old channel of Icicle Creek, diverting the water down the original road prism. The original road prism was destroyed—in other words, the road does not exist.
Q.Why aren’t you beginning restoration work right away?
A. Restoration work will begin when the waters recede and safe access to the area is available for the necessary restoration work. Funding requests are already in progress.
Q. What options are you considering to fix this situation?
A. Because Icicle Creek has been diverted onto Icicle Valley Road, it is unlikely that we will be able to reconstruct the road in its original location. We expect to re-route the flooded portion of the road up the hillside, out of the valley bottom.
Q. Will this area be open later in the summer?
A. No, we do not expect that there will be public motorized access this year and possibly next year.
Q. Where can I go camping?
A. Five accessible campgrounds are located downstream of the debris slides. These campgrounds are usually available during the week and then fill up on weekends. Tumwater Campground is an alternative campground, located off Highway 2 and next to the Wenatchee River. This campground rarely fills to capacity and is only ten miles west of Leavenworth.
