FLOOD10331

• County: Weld
• Community: Wattenberg
• Stream Name: South Platte River
• Title: Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan, Wattenberg, Weld County, Colorado
• Date: 8/1/1996
• Prepared For: Wattenberg
• Prepared By: Kistner and Associates
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Flood Mitigation/Flood Warning/Watershed Restoration

WATTENBERG, COLORADO FLOOD HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN

AUGUST 1996

(Source: Colorado Department of Labor and
Employment, 1994)

The significance of the County's growth and
economic diversification can be seen in the
increases of urban type uses in historically
land area dedicated to agriculture. Urban
growth not only creates pressure on
farmland, but also on floodplains throughout
the county.

Geographical Setting

Weld County has elevations ranging 4,400
feet above sea level to highs of 6,600 feet in
the northwestern portion of the county.
Gently rolling hills form the terrain in Weld
County, primary used for agriculture and
cattle grazing. Weld County climate
experiences wide temperature changes from
season to season and rapid weather changes
due to storms traveling throughout the
region. The annual average mean
temperature in Weld is 48.4 degrees. The
average rainfall amount is 11.96 inches and
the average snowfall is 32.3 inches per year.

THE 1995 FLOOD EVENT

During the spnng of 1995, Colorado and
specifically Weld County experienced
exceptionally high waters along the South
Platte river drainage, due to rains and high
snowmelt and subsequent runoff. The high
water and runoff started approximately May
30th and went to June 20th. The majority of
the concern was along the South Platte River
but several bridges were affected on the
Cache LaPoudre River. Heavy rains
between June 7th and 15th caused extensive
damage to Weld County roads , bridges and
culverts in areas not normally effected by
water runoff. Approximately 122 bridges,

culverts and roadways were damaged In
Weld County (See Figure 3).

.
Road Closures -1995 Flood

,'<:

Hardin Area
Weld County Road (WCR) 80 between WCR 50 and WCR
61 .
WCR388 between HWY 37 and WCR 380
WCR 63 between HWY 34 and WCR 380
WCR '65. between WCR 50 and WCR380
WCR 50 between H\yy 34 and WCR 380
WQR 52 between WCR 61 and WCR 380
Other Areas
WCR 61 between HWY 34 and WCR 50
WCR 50 between WCR 59 and WCR 61
WCR51betweenHWY 34 and WCR 58
WCR 49.5 between HWY 34 and WCR 58
W~R 46 between WCR 35 and WCR 37
WCR 33 between WCR 40 and WCR 42
WCR 34 between WCR 25 and US 85
WCR 25.5 between WCR 32.3 and WCR 34
WCR 40 between WCR 31 and WCR 33
WCR 25.5 between WCR 36 and WCR 38
WCR 68 between WCR 89 and WCR 67
WCR 29 between WCR 38.5 and WCR 42
WCR 45 between WCR 44 and WCR 42
WCR 50.5 between WCR 39 and WCR 41
WCR 42 between WCR 33 and US 85
WCR 89 between WCR 64 and WCR 68
WCR 25.5 between WCR 36 and WCR 38
WCR 105 between WCR 80 and WCR 86
Closed 6/10/95
WCR 396 between 54th St. Rd. and WCR 27.5
54th St. Rd. between Alto Way and 65'"
Closed 6/12195
WCR 30.5 between WCR 23 andHWY 66
Closed 6/14/95
WCR 13 between WCR 26 and WCR 28

Figure 3

3