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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />STUDY AREA DESCRIPTION <br /> <br />Community DescriDtion <br /> <br />Rye is located in the central foothills of Colorado. It is located approximately 38 miles southwest <br />of Pueblo. The area studied for the FHBM is the incorporated areas of the Town of Rye as of <br />July 18, 1975. <br /> <br />Watershed Description <br /> <br />Greenhorn Creek originates in Pueblo County southwest of Rye. The headwaters are located in <br />the San Isabel National Forest in southwestern Pueblo County at elevations around 10,000 feet. <br />The creek flows northeasterly from it's origin through Pueblo County to its confluence with <br />Muddy Creek downstream of the Town of Rye. <br /> <br />Floodinl!: Problems and Floodinl!: Historv <br /> <br />Convective type cloudburst storms sometimes lasting for several hours, can be expected to occur <br />in the Rye area during the summer months. The cloudburst storms can cause high peak flows <br />with a small water volume over a short duration. Local street flooding has occurred in Rye <br />during the summer months as a result of runoff from thunderstorm activity in the area. <br />Greenhorn Creek has been a source of local flooding problems in the past. <br /> <br />Flooding in the foothills area of Pueblo County generally occurs in the spring and early summer <br />as a result of rapid melting of the mountain snowpack. Snowmelt flooding is characterized by <br />moderate peak flows and large volumes of water over a long duration. The peak flows have a <br />noticeable diurnal fluctuation. Snowmelt flooding may occasionally be augmented by rainfall. <br />Flooding from general rainstorms may also occur during the months of June through September. <br />General rainfall flooding is characterized by higher peak flows with a moderate volume and a <br />moderate duration. Flooding is more severe when antecedent rainfall has resulted in saturated <br />ground conditions or the ground is frozen and infiltration is minimal. <br /> <br />Research of the study area yielded minimal information regarding major flooding events in Rye. <br />In spite of the long history of human activity in Pueblo County, there are no historical accounts <br />of major flooding on Greenhorn Creek. There have been, however, occurrences of high water <br />in the past. <br />