FLOOD03173

• County: Statewide
• Community: All
• Basin: Statewide
• Title: State of Colorado 2002 Flood Documentation Report
• Date: 1/1/2003
• Prepared For: CWCB
• Prepared By: ICON Engineering, Inc.
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Flood Documentation Report

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There are no gages available for either of the stream areas investigated by this study. Two
gages were found on Rifle Creek, however both gages were upstream of the affected
areas near Rifle Gap Reservoir. According to officials with the Department of Water
Resources, these gages have been giving unreliable and inaccurate data all summer due to
the current drought conditions in the state.

Flooded Area Description
Areas of the city that were inundated with flood water, mud, and debris include:

"...White River Avenue, the Lamplighter and Bookcliff Apartments and RV Park
on Railroad Avenue, the county fairgrounds, Howard and Park avenues and along
Rifle Creek from the northern city limits to U.S. Highway(s) 6& 24 (The Daily
Sentine~ 2)."

Estimated Flood Damal!:es & Anv Special Factors Affectinl!: the Flood

Both flood events eroded roads and various areas surrounding both creeks. Damage
included a culvert, a walking bridge, approximately l20 feet of chain link fence, and
involved a lot of mud and debris cleanup around the city and fairgrounds. See Figures
2.ll through 2.l7 for fairground damage pictures obtained through Steve Denney with
the office of Emergency Management (next several pages). In addition, "three homes
sustained major damage and four others were slightly damaged (Daily Sentinel, 1 )."
Water damage was also reported at the Colorado State Veterans Nursing Home and the
Alpine BanIe

No injuries or casualties were reported from these events.

Damage estimates were obtained through Mr. Denney with the Office of Emergency
Management. The fairgrounds estimated damage at $28,000, which included the
replacement of a culvert and a walking bridge. Pictures of the fuirgrounds damage are
included in the Additional Support Information section of this report, courtesy of Mr.
Denney.

Cleanup damage throughout the city was estimated at $5,500, but at the time of this
study, it was unknown if these were the final damage figures.

The Daily Sentinel reported that after the flood in May 1993, the city constructed a flood
control dam to help control and alleviate damage to the areas surrounding the creeks. No
further information could be obtained at this time concerning this structure, however the
police chief believes it helped to minimize the damage.

ICCi'\.: Engireeri~g, 1,'1C

14

January 2003