Ruptured beaver dam temporarily closes Lower Valley roads

Published 4:50 pm Monday, November 5, 2012

Just before noon on Monday, a flood engulfed the intersection of Northeast 124th Street and S.R. 203 north of Carnation. Several homes were swamped in the unexpected deluge, which King County Emergency Management officials say was caused by a beaver dam rupture.

The dam ruptured late Monday morning, emptying a roughly 20-acre pond, and causing a two-hour closure of 124th Street while emergency officials cleared the roads of debris. The road re-opened around 2 p.m.

Several homeowners reported that the debris actually created log jams that kept the water in their homes to a minimum. No major damage was reported.