FLOOD10843

• County: Pitkin
• Community: Pitkin County and Incorporated Areas
• Title: FIS - Pitkin County and Incorporated Areas - Vol 1
• Date: 10/19/1994
• Prepared For: Pitkin County
• Prepared By: FEMA
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Current FEMA Regulatory Floodplain Information

Approximate methods were used to evaluate flooding from the
following sources: Brush Creek, Capi tal Creek, Castle Creek, East
Sopris Creek, Maroon Creek, West Sopris Creek, and Woody Creek.
Approximate analyses were used to study those areas having a low
development potential or minimal flood hazards.

2.2 Community Description

Pitkin County is located in west-central Colorado. It is bordered by
Garfield and Eagle Counties to the north, Mesa County to the west,
Gunnison County to the south, and Chaffee and Lake Counties to the
east.

The City of Aspen is a mountain resort community situated in
east-central Pi tkin County, and is the county seat. Historically,
mining provided employment in Pitkin County. Since the late 1940s,
however, tourism provided an increasing amount of income to Pitkin
County. The areas near the City of Aspen and Snowrnass Village have
benefited considerably from the ski and summer resort-related
industry.

The Town of Basalt is located in southwestern Eagle County and
north-central Pitkin County approximately 20 miles southeast of
Glenwood Springs. The economy of Basalt depends on government, or
local business, recreation, tourism, and the service industry that
supports it, and the construction industry, with less dependence on
ranching and farming (Reference 1).

Population and development have increased steadily since World
War II, particularly in those areas affected by the ski industry.
According to the u.s. Census Bureau, the population of the City of
Aspen grew from 1, 101 in 1960 to 5,889 in 2000; for the Town of
Basalt, the population increased from 213 in 1960 to 2,681 in 2000;
for the Town of Snowmass Village, the population increased from
1,397 in 1980 to 1,803 in 2000; and for Pitkin County, the
population increased from 2,381 in 1960 to 14,769 in
200Q{Reference 2).

Town of Basalt is located at the confluence of the Roaring Fork and
Fryingpan Rivers. The Roaring Fork River originates in the Sawatch
Mountain Range at an elevation above 14,000 feet, then flows
approximately 37 miles to the Town of Basalt. At the confluence of
the Roaring Fork and Fryingpan Ri vers, 53 percent of the total
drainage of the Fryingpan and Roaring Fork River basins has been
collected (Reference 3). The Roaring Fork River is the maj or
drainageway through the City of Aspen and collects flow from
tributary streams on both sides of the valley.

The Fryingpan River originates in the Sawatch Mountain Range above
the timberline and flows southwesterly to the Town of Basalt, where
it empties into the Roaring Fork River on the western side of town.
The Fryingpan River comprises approximately 19 percent of the total
flow of the Roaring Fork River (Reference 3). Development in the
floodplains of the Roaring Fork and Fryingpan Rivers is minimal.

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