Laserfiche WebLink
<br />2.0 AREA STUDIED <br /> <br />2.1 Scope of Study <br /> <br />This Flood Insurance Study covers the <br />of Sterling, Logan County, Colorado. <br />on the Vicinity Map (Figure 1). <br /> <br />incorporated area of the City <br />The areas of study are shown <br /> <br />The South Platte River was studied by detailed methods throughout <br />Logan County, however only that portion of the reach affecting the <br />City of Sterling is shown. Pawnee Creek Overflow was studied by <br />detailed methods within the City of Sterling from the mouth to its <br />confluence with Sterling No. 1 Ditch, a reach of approximately 2.3 <br />miles. Sand Creek was studied by detailed methods from a point <br />approximately 90 feet downstream of State Highway 138 to a point <br />approximately 110 feet upstream of Hall Road, a reach of <br />approximately 3.4 miles. <br /> <br />The areas studied by detailed methods were selected based upon the <br />extent and validity of available existing hydrologic and hydraulic <br />data. <br /> <br />2.2 Community Description <br /> <br />The City of Sterling, the county seat of Logan County, 1S located <br />approximately 125 miles northeast of Denver, 132 miles east of <br />Boulder, and 126 miles southeast of Cheyenne, Wyoming. According <br />to 1980 census data, Sterling had a population of 11,385, an <br />increase of approximately 7 percent over the 1970 population of <br />10,636 (Reference 1). The climate of Sterling is primarily <br />affected by northwestern winds. The average annual precipitation <br />is 19 inches and the average annual snowfall is 39.4 inches. The <br />mean annual temperature is 48.60F and the average annual number of <br />clear days is 299. The coldest month is January with a mean <br />temperature of 38.80F and the warmest month is July with an average <br />temperature of 89.0oF. The topography of the City of Sterling <br />consists of high rolling plains. The total land area within the <br />City of Sterling is 5.33 square miles. <br /> <br />2.3 Principal Flood Problems <br /> <br />Flooding along the South Platte River, Pawnee Creek Overflow, and <br />Sand Creek in the Sterling area normally occurs from March through <br />September with the most frequent flooding occurring during June. <br />Annual peak discharges, however, have been recorded throughout the <br />year. Floods in the Sterling area normally occur under conditions <br />not affected by ice. Ice jams, however, are possible on the South <br />Platte River although their historical frequency of occurrence is <br />rare. Irrigation works also influence flooding in the Sterling <br />area by the diversion of floodwaters. <br /> <br />2 <br />