|
<br />I
<br />I
<br />I
<br />I
<br />I
<br />
<br />difference that separated them was the closing of South Deckers Road during the second
<br />event. Information could be obtained about the effects of the Hayman fire and the
<br />rehabilitation of the burned area, but facts concerning two specific storms were
<br />unavailable. In addition, since the storms did not cause significant damage to the
<br />community and surrounding area, or any injuries, there was no federal flood mitigation.
<br />In other words, officials did not make it a priority to collect and assemble data about
<br />these two events.
<br />
<br />Total precipitation amounts varied according to different sources and different locations
<br />throughout the burn area. This variation is expected and normal for storm fronts in the
<br />state. The National Weather Service reported that 0.13 inches of rain fell in Lake George
<br />(a nearby community to the south of Deckers), and 0.06 inches of precipitation was
<br />recorded at Cheesman Reservoir (approximately 6 miles southwest of Deckers on the
<br />South Platte River) during the July lOth storm. A local dude ranch owner told the Denver
<br />Post that according to a rain gage, 0.6 inches of rain fell on his property including some
<br />small haiL
<br />
<br />!I
<br />I
<br />I
<br />I
<br />I
<br />I
<br />I
<br />I
<br />I
<br />I
<br />I
<br />I
<br />I
<br />I
<br />
<br />A wide variance in precipitation amounts was also reported for the July 22nd storm. The
<br />
<br />.,
<br />
<br />
<br />'':''':'.
<br />
<br />'-_.t
<br />
<br />(
<br />) ",,",'';
<br />". . ,/~ -. .. :../
<br />/'" . .~~,
<br />SOU1h'Plf'\~";: '''. .
<br />
<br />. ~ station 0670197~' .',
<br />t . ,....c.. _
<br />.;: .~.....-
<br />{--
<br />) .'
<br />1- .--
<br />Ger
<br />~)
<br />.;0
<br />.:
<br />~ ,,("-
<br />I'-... "
<br />~ J::
<br />ff: (r
<br />f!: ,.,/'
<br />0~
<br />0,
<br />0(
<br />/
<br />..
<br />
<br />".-'[
<br />
<br />,,,+-
<br />o (fY
<br />. ",0
<br />_ OS'
<br />-' c.-1'
<br />
<br />Figure 1.4 - Map of Spring Creek Rain Gage Location.
<br />
<br />;::J ',,, \ ',i ri' f--'
<br />JiLl,. J
<br />, I ,.( i II
<br />I rLL'" ) I
<br />'~,.\~~ '. =i
<br />--I ,--'--# i flJSGSStat ion , 06701970
<br />I /"1.,.'~ rr'.Y~:=J., ~'l
<br />l-~ 3r. - ,
<br />..............1 ~ .
<br />~-=tilT I ,V.' -'-L1 "
<br />re I /'"'!-./' I
<br />I ,I ~''. I " ,_I
<br />, r I 1 :---: --II
<br />Figure 1.5 - Spring Creek Rain Gage
<br />Location in Relation to State of Colorado.
<br />
<br />Rocky Mountain News
<br />reported that, "about 2 inches
<br />ofrain fell in (an) hour and a
<br />half." Another article by the
<br />Denver Post quotes a
<br />spokesman for the Jefferson
<br />County Sheriff's office,
<br />saying "...she had heard that
<br />about l/3-inch of rain fell in
<br />the area."
<br />
<br />Official rain gage data was
<br />also available for this studied
<br />area. Since the Hayman Fire scorched the land, the potential for floods and mudslides
<br />increased dramatically due to the loss of erosion reducing weeds, trees, and natural
<br />grasses. Several new rain gages were installed near Deckers, and around the burn area, in
<br />order to help warn the surrounding communities of flash flood producing storms.
<br />
<br />ICON Engineering. Inc
<br />
<br />,
<br />.J
<br />
<br />January 2003
<br />
|