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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />(Gundlach, 1977-78). The constantly shifting path of debris flow across a <br />debris fan makes identification of a sin91e flood plain impossible. In 1914 <br />a debris flow along Cornet Creek caused severe damage to the eastern parts <br />of Telluride, Colorado, built on the debris fan. In 1969 another debris flow <br />down the same stream damaged the western part of the town. Consequently, <br />entire debris fans of small mountain streams could be classified as areas of <br />hazard due to floodin9_ Not all flood-~lain studies in mountain areas fail <br />to recognize the debriS flow problem. During the flood-insurance study of <br />the town of Telluride, the debris-flow hazard from Cornet Creek was correctly <br />recognized (Federal Insurance Administration, 1978). However, standard <br />procedures for dealing with flood hazards on debris fans and alluvial fans have <br />been slow in developing (Magura and Wood, 1980; Gundlach, 1977-78; Dawdy, 1979). <br />Topography and climate are some of the main attractions of the Rocky <br />Mountain and western Great Plains to visitors and residents alike. This <br />combination of topography and climate is also the catalyst which makes many <br />highly populated portions of the Rocky Mountain west potentially subject to <br />flash-flood disasters. This will be the case for the foreseeable future. <br />Flood-plain studies alone will probably not be a sufficient technical response <br />to this problem, unless supported by strict land-use regulations. Early <br />flood warning holds much promise (e.g., Urban Drainage and Flood Control <br />District, 1977) but adequate systems are expensive and require long-term <br />commitments on the part of local governments. <br /> <br />-5- <br />