Floods

As the past few years have shown, Moab and southeastern Utah are susceptible to flooding. Floods can be caused by spring snowmelt in creeks and rivers, though in Moab it more commonly comes from intense monsoonal storms that can drop inches of rain in mere minutes. Monsoon season runs from around mid-June to the end of September.

Flooding in Moab can occur along creeks — the two running through town are called Mill Creek and Pack Creek — or underneath cliffs. In addition, ephemeral drainages that may be dry most of the time can swell with water during intense rainfall, causing flooding.

This page is intended as a clearinghouse for resources related to flooding in and around Moab. It includes information on floodplain permitting and regulation; flood preparation and protection; and the history and science of Moab’s flooding.

This page is also in progress, so please continue to check back for more information!

Flood Resources

Rim to Rim Restoration, in partnership with several local organizations and governments including the City of Moab, has started building a suite of handouts and mailers about flooding in Moab. Developed by Rim to Rim’s staff of scientists and subject-matter experts, this information can help residents understand how to prepare for future floods and mitigate the impacts on homes and properties.

There will be more resources coming, so let us know if there are other topics you’d like to see covered! You can reach us at info[at]revegetation.org

Resources for before monsoon season

The first step to protecting your home & property is understanding how floodwaters could impact you. Check out our “Do you know where the flow will go?” mailer for some tips on how to identify problem areas.
Next, after examining how flood could impact your property, consider taking a few straightforward steps to protect your home. Look at our “Flood Property Protection 101” handout for steps you can take before and during monsoon season to gird against flooding.
For more in-depth information about flooding in Moab, see “Managing Flood Impacts in Mill & Pack Creeks.” This informative packet answers questions like: Why do floods occur in Moab? How is land along the Mill and Pack creek corridors regulated? And what does that mean for landowners?

Resources for during monsoon season

Get ready! Look at our “It’s Time to Prepare” mailer for 3 things you can do in a few minutes or hours to prepare for possible flooding.

Flood History

Moab’s 2022 flood

Moab’s 2022 monsoon season was one of the most intense in recent memory. In addition to many floods in both Mill and Pack creeks, an intense storm cell on Aug. 20 caused flooding in Spanish Valley, downtown Moab, and the upper reaches of Mill Creek. At its peak, Mill Creek’s flow just downstream of downtown Moab exceeded 5,400 cubic feet per second — higher than that of the nearby Colorado River.

The attached video is a 2022 Rim to Rim Restoration presentation about the impacts of the flood on Moab and its long-term implications for town. It was originally presented to the National Park Service as a part of their Brown Bag Lunch series.