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<br />The flood hazard upstream of Steamboat Springs is also a result of overflow from the <br />Yampa River. This reach of the Yampa River flows northerly. Here, Oak Creek and <br />other smaller tributaries enter the Yampa River. The potential for flood damage along <br />this study reach also is not great because of the lack of development. <br /> <br />The largest flood recorded in the 65 years of record at USGS gaging station <br />No. 09239500 on the Yampa River at Steamboat Springs, located at the Fifth Street <br />bridge, occurred on June 14, 1921. The peak discharge was 6,820 cfs, resulting from <br />snowmelt and rainfall. This flood had a recurrence interval of approximately 50 years, <br />or a 2-percent chance, on average, of occurring in any given year. <br /> <br />Flooding problems in the vicinity of the communities of Clark and Glen Eden result <br />from overflow from the Elk River, which flows from the northeast along the <br />northwestern boundaries of these two communities. Several small tributaries enter the <br />Elk River within the reach studied. The potential for flood damage along the Elk: River <br />is not great because of the lack of development. The Elk River will overflow CR 58 <br />during a loo-year flood. <br /> <br />The largest flood recorded in the 68 years of record at USGS gaging station <br />No. 09241000 on the Elk River at Clark, located at the CR 129 Bridge, occurred on <br />May 23, 1984. The peak discharge of 4,910 cfs resulted from snowmelt. This flood <br />had a recurrence interval of greater than 100 years, or less than a I-percent chance, on <br />average, of occurring in any given year. The 1984 flood resulted in minor overbank <br />flooding that caused minimal property damage, except for local stream erosion. <br /> <br />2.4 Flood Protection Measures <br /> <br />No flood protection structures exist in the Towns of Oak: Creek and Yampa. <br /> <br />Town of Hayden <br /> <br />The northern corporate limits of Hayden, which border the southern limits of the <br />Yampa River floodplain, are protected by an earth embankment of the D&RGWRR. <br /> <br />Immediately upstream from the railroad crossing on Dry Creek, a levee has been <br />constructed on the left bank (looking downstream). Another levee, also on Dry Creek, <br />is located on the right bank, just upstream from the county road crossing west of the <br />county fairgrounds. Erosion of these levees through the years has caused considerable <br />deterioration, and overtopping by high water could result. <br /> <br />Several small reservoirs or stock ponds, including J. C. Temple Reservoir, are located <br />in the Dry Creek Basin, south of the corporate limits. Although these structures were <br />not designed for flood protection, they may retain or retard a portion of the runoff, thus <br />reducing peak flows at Hayden. <br /> <br />The Town of Hayden imposes a city restriction on land subdivision: five percent must <br />be left undeveloped as greenbelt areas. The town also requires drainage easements. <br /> <br />22 <br />