Flood cleanup and extraction
Pumping and extracting water, removing mud and silt, and pulling wet carpet and pad.
About flood cleanupWater Damage & Flood Cleanup in Arboles & Navajo Lake, CO
The Piedra River near Arboles set a gauge record in October 2026 and CO 151 was cut. If your home near Arboles or Navajo Lake took on water, describe it once and independent restoration companies can reply with free quotes.
Get a Free QuoteSafety first. If you are under an evacuation order, leave. As of November 1, 2026 a second crest is forecast on the San Juan River and mandatory evacuations are in effect in the Pagosa Springs area. Don't drive on a closed or washed-out road, and don't enter a flooded building until officials say it is safe.
What happened around Arboles
All figures below are as of November 1, 2026, from reporting between October 27 and October 31.
- Record gauge: the Piedra River near Arboles reached 10.48 feet, against a prior record of 6.4 feet. The gauge may since have stopped working (Pagosa Sun, Oct 29, 2026).
- Road cut: CO 151 between Pagosa Springs and Arboles washed out near mileposts 27 and 30, with a County closure from milepost 23 to 33. CDOT planned a temporary access road; check its current status before you travel.
- Reservoir: Navajo Reservoir rose about 23 feet in seven days, with inflow of 45,205 cfs on October 23, 2026.
- Door-to-door checks ran along CO 151, and flooded septic tanks were reported in rural areas (Colorado Sun, Oct 27, 2026).
- Meeting: Archuleta County scheduled a community flood update for November 3, 2026 at Cowboy Way Fellowship Church in Arboles.
A rural area with its own water problems
Arboles is about 28 miles southwest of Pagosa Springs in a straight line, and farther by road.
| Arboles CDP (ACS 2020-2024) | Figure |
|---|---|
| Residents | about 389 |
| Housing units | 236 |
| Seasonal or recreational homes | 34.3% |
| Owner-occupied | 89.3% |
| Median year built | 1995 |
Most homes here are owner-occupied, about a third are seasonal, and many rely on private wells and septic systems. That shapes the cleanup. A company drying a house near Arboles has to think about the well and the leach field, not just the drywall.
Wells and septic after the flood
The Archuleta County Public Health Department (ACPHD) advised in October 2026:
- Turn off power to the well before any inspection, and don't turn the pump back on until it has been checked.
- Use another water source for drinking and bathing until the well is tested and, if needed, disinfected.
- Let a flooded septic system dry, limit use, and don't pump the tank until groundwater drops.
- Throw out food from a fridge or freezer that flooded.
Septic repairs in Archuleta County need an installer holding a County OWTS installer license. Restoration companies handle the house; ask them who they work with for the septic side, or hire a licensed installer yourself.
What the companies typically quote
Septic and sewage backup
Floodwater can carry sewage. Category 3 cleanup means more removal and disinfection.
About sewage cleanupClaim documentation
Photos, moisture logs and contents lists you can give your NFIP or private flood insurer.
About documentationBefore any work in the floodplain, Archuleta County requires a Floodplain Development Permit from its Planning Department. Ask any company whether it will pull that permit or expect you to. Standard homeowners policies generally exclude flood (Colorado Division of Insurance); if you carry NFIP coverage, the signed proof of loss is due within 60 days unless FEMA extends it.
Get quotes for a home near Arboles
Tell us whether the road to the house is open, what flooded, and whether you have a well or septic system. Or call (970) 408-5771.
Arboles & Navajo Lake questions
Can a restoration company reach my house near Arboles with CO 151 closed?
That depends on where the house is and on road status, which was changing as of November 1, 2026. When you request quotes, say which road you use and whether it is open. Companies coming from Pagosa Springs, Durango or Ignacio can tell you how they would get there.
Is my well water safe after the flood?
Don't assume it is. ACPHD says to turn off power to the well before inspection, not to run the pump until it is checked, and to use other water until it is tested and disinfected if the well or cistern was near floodwater. CDPHE also recommends testing well water after a flood.
Is FEMA help available for homes near Arboles?
As of November 1, 2026, FEMA Individual Assistance has not been approved. The state's October 31 request covers public assistance and hazard mitigation only. Report damage through the County's Crisis Track portal, which is for reporting only, and check the County for updates. This site is not affiliated with FEMA or the County.
Nearby areas
Flood or water damage? Get free quotes.
Tell us what happened and independent restoration companies serving Pagosa Springs and Archuleta County can reply with no-obligation quotes.