Joshua Tree National Park road repairs continue after severe monsoonal flooding
Crews continued the cleanup in Joshua Tree National Park Friday after severe thunderstorms and flash flooding damaged roads and other infrastructure.
"During the flash flood flood events, the water moves a lot of soil and gravel and bigger rocks, covers the road and makes the roads impassable," said Acting Park Superintendent Frank Klein. "Flash flooding can be really dangerous to people."
Pavement buckled as furious currents washed under it. The south entrance from I-10 was closed and the southern portion of the park needed to be evacuated.
For days, crews have worked overtime to get paved roadways back open.
The Cottonwood Campground, though, still remains closed after water compromised a picnic table area. Klein said it will need significant repairs.
"All this had several inches of water on it all carrying mud and gravel and such through the campground and throughout other areas of the park," he said.
Some of the more significant damage was not just to roadways but infrastructure as well. A pipe from an uphill water tank supplying the Cottonwood Visitors Center and campground used to be under a dirt road, but now is exposed.
"The water system still is functional but obviously this is going to take significant amount of maintenance to get fixed," Klein said.
The storm even forced a remote rescue Monday with a group stuck near their car, trapped by rushing floodwaters. "We were able to get their car unstuck and get them on their way. But that was sort of a close call situation," Klein said.
The storms serve as important reminders, he added, of the dangers monsoon season bring to the desert – with more storms expected on the way.
"We are in a bit of a vulnerable time and I'm crossing my fingers that we get some good luck here," Klein said.
Park officials warn visitors to check the weather forecast before entering the park. They said monsoonal rain in the summer and early fall can be deadly. Turn around, don't drown during summer storms.
Safety information from Joshua Tree National Park during monsoon season can be found here.
