FLOOD00067

• County: Alamosa
• Community: Alamosa
• Stream Name: Rio Grande River
• Title: Flood Control Status Report for Alamosa County and City
• Date: 7/1/1987
• Prepared For: Alamosa County
• Prepared By: CWCB
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Project

I
1-.
.,
I
I
I
I
I
1-.
I",
I
I
I
I
I
I
I'
1
I

c. Prepare an estimate of the potential flood damages and
determine the average annual cost of flood damages.

d. Prepare a hydraulic analysis of the Rio Grande to
determine anticipated flood profiles.

e.

Identify possible improvements to the
system to upgrade deficient areas so as
protection freeboard and levee stability.

existing levee
to provide flood

f. Identify costs of the suggested improvements.

g. Recommend a priority for implementing the improvements.

h. Depict the recommended improvements on base maps and
prepare a summary report explaining the study effort and
the findings.

Photo base maps were prepared by the Colorado Water
Conservation Board and the hydraulic computer model for the
river system was,.made available by the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, Albuquerque District for use by MUller Engineering.
On October 17, 1985, surveyed cross sections of the river
channel were completed by the Alamosa County Surveyor an
forwarded to Muller Engineering.

On October 21, 1985, the preliminary findings of the
reconnaissance study were reviewed with all involved entities,
including the ci ty of Alamosa, Alamosa County, Colorado Water
Conservation Board, Division Of Disaster Emergency Services,
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Local
Affairs.

4.1. 5

Preliminary Report Findings

The report by Muller Engineering indicated that the City of
Alamosa and Alamosa County should take steps to fund a major
improvement program to upgrading the existing levee system
along the Rio Grande. This action, if taken, would provide for
the health, safety and welfare of the citizens and property of
Alamosa, East Alamosa and the immediate surrounding areas
against future flooding events.

The Muller report indicated the Alamosa area experienced an
annual flood risk or cost of $900,000 to $1,000,000. This
represented an annualized cost of flood damages over a 100-year
period, assuming the 1985 status of development and flood
protection. This cost represented past and future damage to
private and public property. Improving the levee system to
federal criteria would result in average annual risks being
reduced to approximately $50,000 to $75,000.

-11-