FLOOD01663

• County: Moffat
• Community: Craig, Moffat County
• Stream Name: Yampa River
• Title: Flood Hazard Information
• Date: 9/30/1987
• Prepared For: Craig, Moffat County
• Prepared By: US Army Corps of Engineers
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Floodplain Report/Masterplan

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floodwater in a common ponding area, The
principal areas of flooding along Pine Ridge
Gulch comprise ponding areas at the Highway
40 and Highway 13-789 crossings. A large
sheet flow area would extend from the
Highway 13-789 crossing southerly to the
flood plain of the Yampa River, The principal
areas of lOa-year flooding on Cedar Mountain
Gulch comprise sheet floll- west of the stream
in the vicinity of the upper crossing of
Highway 355, and overbank flow to the east at
the 101l'er crossing of Highway 355, A ponding
area would occur at the upstream side of
Highway 40, and sheet flow that commingles
with Pine Ridge Gulch sheet flow would occur
downstream from Highway 40,

In general. the 500-year flood would follow
the same patterns as the lOa-year flood, but
inundation would extend farther from the
stream channels and be substantially deeper
in some locations. On Fortification Creek, 500-
year flood flows would break out to the east
upstream from the Highway 40 crossing to
inundate historically' flooded areas around
and easterly of the fairgrounds, Five-hundred
year sheet flow flooding in the central section
of the city would extend in a widening fan
shape from the vicinity of 10th Street on the
north to the railroad on the south. and from
Ranny Street on the west to the creek on the
east, Approximately 45 city blocks north of
Victory Way would be subject to sheet flow
flooding,

In total, the lOa-year flood would inundate
approximately 11,800 acres, of which 10,150

FLOOD DAMAGES

A 100- or 500-year flood in the Craig area
would cause substantial residential, commer-
cial, and industrial damage, Agricultural
losses would also be significant and would
occur primarily in the bottom lands along the
Yampa River where crops and livestock
would be destroyed; farm and ranch improve'
ments, especially irrigation systems, would be
damaged; and substantial costs would be
incurred to restore crop and pasture lands
covered with silt and debris or damaged by
erosion, Residential losses would include
damage to foundations, exterior and interior
.walls, floors, furnishings, and appliances
(especially appliances and heating systems in

acres are agricultural. 325 acres are residen-
tial, 200 acres are commercial-industrial,
1,100 acres are streamway, and 25 acres are
rights-of-way, It should be noted that all of the
flooded areas shown on Plates 2-27 may not be
inundated at the same time because flood
producing conditions in the various tributary
watersheds would not necessarily occur con-
currently. Shallow flooding (generally less,
than 6 inches deep) may occur beyond the
flooded areas shown. The depth of flow in the
channels and adjacent flooded areas along the
streams and stream ways under study can be
determined from the water surface profiles
shown on Plates 28-44,

The flooded areas shown on Plates 2~27
reflect unobstructed channel flow. Ice jams
could alter the patterns shown, especially
along Fortification Creek. Therefore. the
possibility of ice jams aggravating the flood
situation should be given consideration in
using this report. Areas historically flooded
due to ice jams are generally described and
illustrated in the newspaper articles and
photographs covering the 1921 and 1947
floods (pages 7-12 and cover photographs), It
must be pointed out, however, that significant
changes in the alignment of Fortification
Creek have been made since 1947 and its
carrying capacity has increased, that changes
in streets and highways have been made, and
localized changes in topography have
occurred, Therefore, any future flooding
resulting from ice jams would not necessarily
affect areas identical to those inundated from
this type of flooding in the past.

basements subject to filling with floodwater),
Outside improvements such as lawns and
gardens would be damaged by deposits of
sand and silt. Commercial losses would
include structural and equipment damage;
temporary loss of business; loss of inventory
stored on lower floors and in basements; and
the costs of cleanup, repair, and restoration.
Railroad track, embankment, and industrial
sidings would be subject to damage from
inundation, and streambanks would be
eroded. Access to various areas could be cut
off for periods ranging from a few hours to a
few days.

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