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<br />Empire is located at the confluence of the West Fork of Clear <br />Creek and Lion Creek in central Clear Creek County, Colorado. <br />These two streams lying within the city limits were studied in <br />detai I as agreed between Black & Veatch, the Federal Insurance <br />Administration, and the City of Empire. Bard Creek flows through <br />a smal I portion of the City and was studied by approximate <br />methods. <br /> <br />The areas studied were chosen with consideration given to fore- <br />casted development and proposed construction for the next five <br />years (through June 19811. <br /> <br />2.2 Community Description <br /> <br />Empire is located in the val ley of the West Fork of Clear Creek. <br />It is approximately 40 mi les west of Denver, Colorado, and 10 <br />mi les east of the Continental Divide of the Rocky Mountains. <br /> <br />In 1970, the population of Empire and Clear Creek County was <br />319 and 4,780 respectively (Reference 3). A steady growth is <br />expected for the City and County in the foreseeable future. <br /> <br />The West Fork of Clear Creek drains about 39 square mi les, Bard <br />Creek about I I square mi les and Lion Creek 2 square mi les of <br />mountainous watershed above Empire. Watershed elevations range <br />from 13,641 feet atop Bard Peak to about 8600 feet at Empire. <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />Climatic conditions are characteristic of a high altitude, dry <br />continental cl imate. Although there are no weather records for <br />Empire, eighteen years of recorded temperatures at Georgetown <br />indicate a high of about 92 degrees, a low of -26 degrees, and <br />an average annual temperature of 43.5 degrees Fahrenheit. The <br />normal annual precipitation in the higher altitudes is in excess <br />of 35 inches and at Georgetown about 16.2 inches. <br /> <br />Vegetation varies throughout the Clear Creek watershed. In areas <br />above timberl ine, there are many rock outcroppings and the steep <br />mountain slopes are practically devoid of vegetation. In the <br />timber and woodland areas, aspen, spruce, and pine stands pre- <br />dominate. <br /> <br />Because of the steep mountain slopes and narrow valleys in Clear <br />Creek County, development has by necessity occurred near the <br />streams and often within the flood plain. City streets, state <br />and interstate highways cross the flood plains and often constrict <br />the free flowing streams with bridges and embankments. Continuing <br />development within the study area is expected, and pressures <br />leading to intensified flood plain use wi I I probably accompany <br />such development. <br /> <br />6 <br />