FLOOD10486

• County: Phillips
• Community: Holyoke
• Basin: South Platte
• Title: Holyoke Flood Documents and Miscellaneous Projects
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Correspondence

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· The report entitled "Flood Plain Information Report, Frenchman Creek, Holyoke, Colorado,"
dated June 1980, contains excellent floodplain information for Frenchman Creek, South Fork
Frenchman Creek, and North Fork Frenchman Creek. The floodplain delineations are for
Holyoke and portions of unincorporated Phillips County. The CWCB endorses the
floodplain areas shown in the report, and we feel that the 100-year floodplain limits are quite
accurate. Be aware that the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map is not the only source of
floodplain information for the community. As annexations take place in Holyoke or when
development occurs in the County areas around Holyoke, the 1980 floodplain study should be
referenced for additional floodplain information.

· A digital representation of the existing floodplain mapping could be developed for Ulse in an
AutoCadd or other type of Graphical Information System (GIS). The digital floodplain
mapping could be incorporated as one of many layers in the GIS, and could be easily updated
in the future as revisions or mapping extensions occur.

· A comprehensive flood warning and flood evacuation plan should be prepared (and
practiced) if one does not already exist. Efficient notification to the public of imminent
flooding (or other hazards) is very important. A good flood warning and evacuation plan
could help to save lives and valuable personal belongings.

· There is always a chance of having another flood equal to or greater than the recent flood
event. As an example, if the center of the June 14/15 storm cell (heaviest rain) had been
located about 5 miles to the south and west of the actua.l location, the flood damage in
Holyoke could have been much worse. You may recall the flood of July 30, 1989 which
inundated the town of Paoli. The peak flow on the North Fork of Frenchman Creek in 1989
was considerably larger than the recent peak flows in Holyoke.

· In addition to some of the non-structural mitigation measures discussed above, structural
measures should also be considered. Structural measures might include channelization
projects to increase conveyance, bridge/culvert replacement projects to increase capacity, or
levee projects to protect homes and/or businesses. Larry Lang of the CWCB will be
attending the Holyoke Council meeting on July 1, 1997. Larry will be available to discuss
and present various flood mitigation concepts and potential projects.

Please contact me if you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding this transmittal. I
can be reached at [phone]. My fax number is [phone], and my e-mail address is
[e-mail]. I wish you the best of luck with your continuing flood recovery
operations.

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