BOARD00895

• Board Meeting Date: 5/11/1998
• Description: Flood Section - Floodplain Management Program - Report from the Colorado Flood Task Force Regarding "Flood Threat 1998"
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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COLORADO FLOOD TASK FORCE
MEETING SUMMARY FOR MAY 5, 1998

This summary report presents information and findings from the first meeting of the Colorado Flood Task
Force for 1998. The meeting was held to discuss various natural hazards, including floods, that may cause
concern for Colorado citizens and visitors during the late spring and summer months. Meeting participants
included various local, state, and federal officials as well as representatives from private entities and
volunteer organizations.

General announcements were made by Larry Lang, Chair, regarding some recent events in Colorado. These
events included a snowmelt "flash flood" on Fortification Creek in Craig, a rockslide on 1-70 near DeBeque,
and a dam failure flood in Delta County on Leroux Creek.

1) MAJOR BASIN SNOWPACK
Based on recent SNOTEL and SNOWCOURSE readings throughout Colorado, there does not appear to be
a statewide threat of serious snowmelt flooding in the major streams and rivers at this time. The statewide
snowpack is approximately 106 percent of the average as compared to the previous 30-years of record for
May 1 st.. There are three areas to watch that have a higher than average snowpack at this time. They are
the Sangre De Cristo Range (Pueblo to Walsenburg), Grand Mesa in Mesa County, and Southwestern
Colorado (Dolores, Rico, and Telluride areas).

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2) WEATHER FORECAST
A. 7-10 day forecast
The National Weather Service (NWS) provided a short-term weather forecast for the next week or so. The
NWS is predicting maximum daily temperatures in the mid to high 60's and lows in the low to mid 40's for
the Denver area. Grand Junction may experience temperatures that are a few degrees higher. There does
not appear to be the threat of any significant precipitation that would add a lot of snow to the mountain
snowpack or that would cause rainstorm flooding. There will be a chance of minor showers statewide over
the next few days. Snowmelt flooding should not be much of a problem at all in the near future.

B. 30-Day Weather Outlook
John Henz of Henz Meteorological Services (HMS) provided a weather outlook for the next 4 weeks or so.
It appears that mild temperatures and weather will prevail until the end of May. John is somewhat
concerned about the possibility of significant thunderstorms and generally wet/rainy conditions at the very
end of May and the first week in June. Please visit the HMS website at www.hmsweather.com for more
detai Is and further information.

3) STREAMFLOW MEASUREMENTS AND RESERVOIR STORAGE
Streamflow measurements are being monitored by the State of Colorado's Division of Water Resources
(DWR) and the USGS. The DWR reported moderate increases in stream flows at some locations this past
week after warm days, but no flows that cause concern yet. The DWR's "Water Talk" phone number is
[phone]. The DWR also has streamflow information on the Internet. The USGS also provides
streamflow information on the Internet at www.water.usgs.gov/public/realtime. Several reservoirs in
Colorado are either full or at the safe capacity limit at this time. The reservoir stages in southeastern

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