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SI'Ec:IlILnOOOllAZN'J)lNFORMATWN ~ACr.GRODN~ INrORP~TICN AR.KANSASRlVERANDWILDHORSECREEI< HOLLY, COLORADO Holly, Colorado lies in the Arkansas Fiver valley On the north bank o~ the Arkdnsas River abo~t five miles west of the Colorado. Kansas state line. The to~~ is situated at the confluence of Wild Introduction This report presents information on the flood hazard areas that adjoin the !lrkansas River and wild llorse Creek at Holly, ColoradO {see Plate 1). Its contents appear as anapP"ndi>< in the Corps of Engineer's "Detailed Proje"t Report, Investigation for rlood ContrOl,Holly,COlorado,"datedAUgust1974,whiehfindsthat structural flood "ontrol works are economically feasible and r"com. mends that the "hannel improvements presented in the report be approved and that local interests implement the self-help attri. butes of flood plain management to obtain additional flood "ontrol benefits at l\\Odest cost. The guidance herein is designed to assist in the planning and adoption of such flood plain management tech. niques as may be ~ost advantageous in establishing control over the community' s ~lood prone lands. HorSeCreek,anorthbanktributary,'TwoButt"Creek,asouthbank tributary and the Arkansas River. Tl1ese waterslmds are located in the High ~lain5 physiographic province and are characterized by treeless, flat alluvial plains gently rolling due to erosion. The town of HOlly, 1970 population of 993, serves as the local trade oenter for the surrounding livestook and far~ing industry. Holly is located on u.S. flighwaySO, Colorado State Road 89 and is also served by the At"hison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway whiCh prOVides freight service for the area's agricultural products. Basi<::objectivesofthisreportareto: (1) provide definitive flood hazard information on the areas subject to inunda- tion in a OOnner easily understood by the layman; (2) encourage opti. mu~ and pr~d~nt \Ise of flood plain lands by providing state and local agenoies a factual basis for reeucing flood damages and hazards thro\lghcarefullyconsidered,..-ell.plannedregulationsgovcrnin'I thO' u"eof flood plains; (3) publicize "vailable infor""ationon the use and hazards of the flocdphins ina",anner to enlist the support of private citizens and other concerned nongoverrrmcntal agencies; and (4) reduce expenditures on future flooG control projects for the pcotection of developments which should not be built within the The Streams and Their Valleys The Arkansas River originates in the central part of t~e Rocky Mountains near Leadville, Colorado. The river is a typical torrenti"l mountain ~tre"m until it emerges from cer.tr"l Colorado'" Royal Gorge Canyon which has steep ..-all~ over 1,000 feet high. Below the canyor.. the valley gradudlly gro"" ~'ider and de>;cer.de throOJgh the G,-""t Plains regio" to Holly. The riv"" in tlLb re""h is "ha...ctcr. izod by a wide strea~ed with low banks. Stream slopen vary from aboutllOf..etpernLileinthe:nountainstoaooutsil<feetparmile near Holly. floodplains. or-.'<l BuHe Creek, a south bank trihutaryof the Arkar,sas Fiver entering oppo~ite Holly, drain~ ab::>ut 900 ~guare mile~ of plains. "'U.:. Horse Creek, a ~_ller north-bank tribut"ry ",hich ellters the Arkansas River at Holly, drains about 210 nquare miles. ~he drainaqe area contributing to floodinq at Holly comprises all or part of nine cOllnties. T;,is is all below John "!artin Rcservoh: Th.. cor.tributing area bet",,,,,n the re~ervoir ar~ Bolly is abollt 5,508 square miles, includi~g the ~ild Eors" anc ~'<l Blltte Creeks drainage area. This '1rea is ~parsely co,"~r"'" with v"'Jetation H"Jender..'1 by th~ semiarid clirr.ate. All elev~tions appearing in this report ~re l*sed on u.S. Geodetic SUrvey1929mear. se<l level (M.S.L.) d"tum. Tr.eactual limits of overflow ~reas ~ay vary "\ig~tly tr~ t~ose shown o~ !lpp.4 ,