By Pat Jenkins The Dispatch Mother Nature gave Mount Rainier National Park a drenching dose of deja vu last week. The park was closed to the public at the Nisqually entrance for part of the day Nov. 25 as a result of flooding in the Kautz Creek area and the potential for flood damage in other park areas.-á Heavy rain falling on the snowpack at Paradise created dangerous conditions throughout the park, similar to what occurred when major floods in November 2006 caused widespread damage, including destroying the former Sunshine Point campground, officials said. Access via the Nisqually entrance was reopened last Wednesday morning after a logjam in the creek was removed, stopping the flooding of the roadway. But the day, officials said, all park visitors on the west side of the park (from the Nisqually entrance east through Longmire and on to Paradise) were advised to leave the park as a precautionary measure. Only authorized park employees were allowed to remain until conditions stabilized, allowing for an assessment of any road or infrastructure damage, said Tracy Swartout, the park's deputy superintendent. The weather forecast was for continued rain throughout the day, with more rain and snow showers projected for Wednesday. The logjam just above the Kautz Creek culverts on the Nisqually Road caused the creek to back up and divert over the roadway. Park road crews worked throughout the afternoon to remove the logjam and return the creek to its channel. Elsewhere in the park, workers were pumping water out of basements and keeping culverts free of debris. Roads were eventually declared clear and safe for travel. To ensure the safety of the public and park personnel, visitors in the Longmire area and non-essential employees stationed there were evacuated beginning at about 11 a.m., while workers essential to removing the logjam and other tasks remained on duty, according to Swartout, the acting superintendent in the absence of superintendent Randy King. King is temporarily assigned to the National Park Service's regional office in Seattle. He's scheduled to return in December to his duties at Mount Rainier. Almost exactly eight years ago, Mount Rainier was inundated on Nov. 6-7, 2006 with nearly 18 inches of rainfall in 36 hours. The resulting flooding of rivers and streams throughout the park was the worst in the park's 108-year history, causing an estimated $36 million in damage to roads, trails, campgrounds and buildings. The same day last week that the park was re-experiencing heavy flooding, Pierce County road crews were dealing with water over roadway because of rainfall. Twenty-nine such locations were reported, including one on Tanwax Drive East in the Eatonville area. Most of the rest were in central Pierce County. Two roads also were blocked by downed trees. The county Public Works and Utilities Department sent out five two-person crews that night to monitor flooded areas. On the heels of the first significant flooding or flood risk of the fall, county officials reminded motorists not to drive through standing water or around barricades. County road crews responds to roadway issues 24 hours a day. They can be reached at piercecountywa.org/rfa or 253-798-6000.
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