FLOOD02484 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

include production of hay, wheat, and barley. Around the turn of the century, there were great expectations for the exploitation of gold, silver, lead, copper, coal, and other minerals, but only coal (of which there are huge deposits in the region) became significant in the economy of the citYe Lumbering also has been important in the development of Steamboat Springs, The town was incorporated in 1900 and became the county seat in 1911. With the rise of tourism in the early part of the 20th century, Steamboat Springs' mountainous setting and distance from major population centers made it a popular stopping point for summer tourists. Summer tourism continues at present as an impor- tant factor in the economic basee The heavy winter snowpack characteristic of northwestern Colorado contributed to an interest in skiing as a necessity for winter transportation in pioneer times, then as a sport in the early 1900s, In the past few decades, the excellent slopes and snowpack near Steamboat Springs and the widespread increase in skiing gen- erally, have contributed to development of skiing facilities to such an extent that serving the needs of skiers has become the dominant sector of the economic base of the city. Steamboat Springs is known nationwide as "Ski Town, U.S.A., 11 and its transient winter- time population is approximately equal to the permanent resident population of approximately 5000. Projections indicate a resident population of approximately 8000 and a peak winter season population approaching 20,000 in the 1980s, In general, Steamboat Springs functions as the center of trade, education, public administration, and commerce for a county of about 6000 permanent residents. It has a reasonably healthy agri- cultural, mining, timbering, and tourist-recreation economy. Although dominated by the tourism-recreation sector, the city only partially conforms to resort community categorization and its IInon- resortll functions are expected to continue and increase as surely as its growing tourist-recreation function. The flood plains of the streams under study abound with residential, commercial, and light industrial structures. The city park is located in the flood plain of the Yampa River, and numerous city streets, the main highway and secondary roads, the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad, and public utilities cross or are located in flood plain areas. commercial development consists of motels, hotels, eating establishments, specialty shops, and gas stations, all of which are largely oriented toward accommodating tourists in the summer and skiers in the winter. Continuing development within the study area is expected, and pressure leading to intensified flood plain use will undoubtedly accompany such development, which appears to be gaining momentum without considering flooding and drainage. Typical flood plain development is shown in Figures 3 through 12. 6