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. . . .. MEMORANDUM COLORADO WATER CONSERVATION BOARD DARlES C. LILE DIRECTOR DATE: June 9, 1998 TO: Jeff Brugink - U.S. Forest Service Greg O'Neill - U.S. Geological Survey Judy Peratt - Jefferson County OEM Pat Rogers - Colorado Geological Survey Fred Sibley - Colorado OEM Kevin Stewart - Urban Drainage and Flood Control District Michael Vanatta - Jefferson County Highways and Transportation Page Whitesides - Buffalo Creek Association District Chief - North Fork Fire Protection District FROM: Tom Browning - Colorado Water Conservation Board Bob Jarrett - U.S. Geological Survey Larry Tunnel- National Weather Service RE: Buffalo Creek Annual Watershed Inspection On May 19, 1998, a field visit/watershed inspection of the Buffalo Creek area was performed by Bob Jarrett (USGS), Larry Tunnell (NWS), and Tom Browning (CWCB). The purposes of the trip were to: I) Assess the current vegetative/soil conditions of the burned watershed in order to estimate the hydrologic response characteristics prior to the 1998 rainstorm flood season, 2) Obtain additional cross-section information for verification discharge estimates, 3) Obtained a cross-section at the new streamflow gaging station on Buffalo Creek dls ofhwy 126 to help develop a rating curve, and 4) To assist the NWS with precipitation thresholds for flash flood watches and warnings for the residents ofthe Buffalo Creek vicinity. A summary offmdings based on the field visit is as follows: . Grasses, leafy plants, and some small shrubs have begun growing in most of the burned areas, but very spotty. The density and coverage of the new vegetation varies largely based on topography, soils, and Forest Service actions. The south facing slopes seem to have very little vegetation as compared to the north facing slopes. There does not seem to be enough vegetation to reduce water and soil runoff as compared to 1996 and 1997. Growth of new Ponderosa Pine forests has not begun at this time.