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<br />~ <br /> <br />-" ,'i <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />COLORADO WATER CONSERV A TlON BOARD <br />DARIES C. L1LE <br />DIRECTOR <br /> <br />DATE: <br /> <br />July 9, 1997 <br /> <br />TO: <br /> <br />Chuck Vale <br /> <br />FROM: <br /> <br />Tom Browning <br /> <br />RE: <br /> <br />Elk River Flooding of June 1997 <br /> <br />Steve Denny of the Colorado Office of Emergency Management requested that a <br />summary of 1997 flood flow information for the Elk River be transmitted to you, As you <br />are aware, significant flows occurred on the Elk River on June 2 and 3, 1997, The gaging <br />station near Milner recorded a peak flow of more than 5,000 cfs, The U.S. Geological <br />Survey has conducted field investigations to better estimate the peak flow and to assess <br />the validity of the gage results. Preliminary indications suggest that the gage may have <br />underestimated the peak flow, The actual flow may have been as much as 6,000 cfs or <br />higher. However, an official USGS estimate has not been released, <br /> <br />In any case, the June 1997 high flow is definitely considered to be the flood of record. <br />The return period associated with the Elk River peak flow is likely in the range of a 200- <br />year to 500-year event. For comparison purposes, the FEMA Flood Insurance Study for <br />Routt County shows a 100-year flow of about 4,200 cfs for the Elk River above Highway <br />40. <br /> <br />Due to the nature of the extremely high flows (i.e, the flood of record), overbank flooding <br />of the Elk River would be expected in certain locations, The damages and <br />inconveniences caused by the flood are certainly unfortunate, Nationwide and in <br />Colorado, floodplain regulations are normally based on the "IOO-year" flood., Flooding <br />beyond the 100-year flood can and does occur as demonstrated on the Elk River. I will be <br />happy to forward the results of the USGS peak flow estimate once they are available. <br /> <br />It is my understanding that Steve Denny will be arranging a meeting in Routt County for <br />interested parties. Larry Lang and his staff will be available to attend that meeting to <br />further discuss this matter. <br /> <br />cc: Steve Denny <br /> <br />...- <br />...- <br />