The San Juan River surge has left families in Bluff and the Navajo Nation community of Atcitty Camp facing months of recovery after devastating floods damaged homes and businesses during a series of heavy rains in late October 2026. The flooding, which included the breaching of wastewater lagoons, has caused E. coli levels in the river to reach approximately 25 times typical levels, according to San Juan Public Health.
Massive River Surge and Evacuations
The scale of the destruction was described by Bluff Mayor Josh Ewing as a massive, slow-motion flash flood that gained speed rapidly. On Sunday, Oct. 25, the river rose two feet in a single hour, prompting an immediate evacuation order for the town. By Monday, Oct. 26, the river reached a peak depth of 26 feet at the river gage, stretching half a mile across Bluff. This represented a significant increase from just one week prior, when the river stood at 7 feet, according to the Colorado River Basin Forecast Center.
Impact on Navajo Nation Communities
The flooding has caused significant hardship for residents in the Atcitty Camp area, a community on the Navajo Nation near Bluff. Larena Benn, a local resident, reported that the floods destroyed valuable belongings, including tractors, trailers, and hay used to feed horses. While her family was able to rescue their dogs, cats, pigs, and racehorses, the loss of essential tools and supplies has left the community struggling. Benn noted that the river has carved a new channel running directly next to her flooded home.
Challenges in Coordination and Aid
Recovery efforts are complicated by jurisdictional challenges and public health risks. San Juan County Commissioner Jamie Harvey noted that the Navajo Nation is currently operating at capacity while responding to various flood victims across the New Mexico and Arizona portions of the tribal lands. Benn expressed frustration with the lack of support, stating it feels as though government agencies are pointing fingers at one another regarding responsibility for the Atcitty Camp area.
Contamination and Health Risks
Public health officials have issued urgent warnings due to contamination. Dennis Shumway, environmental health director with San Juan Public Health, stated that the flood breached the Navajo Nation's wastewater lagoons upstream, including one in Montezuma Creek, sweeping sewage over farm fields. E. coli levels in the river around Bluff are approximately 25 times typical levels. Officials warned that harmful bacteria could survive in the mud covering homes and riverbanks for two to three months. Residents are advised to avoid contact with floodwaters and the river, and to keep children, pets, and livestock away from the water.
State Agency Response
State agencies have mobilized to assist with infrastructure and access. Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson visited San Juan County on Thursday to witness the damage. The state is mobilizing to build a 200- to 300-foot gravel road to Atcitty Camp to provide access to stranded families, according to the Utah Department of Transportation and the lieutenant governor's office. UDOT began pumping water on Thursday and scheduled grading and gravel laying for Friday, according to UDOT spokesperson Kevin Kitchen.
Record Rainfall Patterns
The flooding follows an exceptionally wet October for the region. Arches National Park recorded 4.6 inches of rain, nearly four times the typical October amount. Bluff saw 5.02 inches of rain, more than six times the typical amount. Monticello recorded 8.69 inches, the highest October total since the town's weather station opened in 2011. Meteorologist Hayden Mahan of the National Weather Service in Utah attributed the intense moisture to a strong El Niño bringing tropical storms from the eastern Pacific.
Road Closures and Infrastructure
Infrastructure remains heavily impacted. The Comb Wash Bridge west of Bluff washed out, closing Highway 163 near its junction with Highway 191, according to a San Juan County post on Nov. 2. Additionally, U.S. Highway 191 was closed between the Old Spanish Trail Arena south of Moab and Monticello due to flooding and debris reported by the Utah Department of Transportation. While some roads have reopened, officials warn that low-lying areas remain at risk as saturated soils continue to react to recent precipitation.
