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<br />2.0 AREA STUDIED <br /> <br />2.1 Scope of Study <br /> <br />This Flood Insurance Study covers the incorporated area of the City <br />of Idaho Springs, Clear Creek County, Colorado. The area of study <br />is shown on the Vicinity Map (Figure 1). <br /> <br />Clear Creek, Chicago Creek, Soda Creek, Virginia canyon, Gilson <br />Gulch, and an unnamed Gulch above 8th Avenue were studied in netail <br />as agreed to by the study contractor, the Federal Insurance Administra- <br />tion, and officials of the City of Idaho Springs. <br /> <br />Those areas studied by detailed methods were chosen with consider- <br />ation given to all proposed construction and forecasted development <br />through 1983. <br /> <br />2.2 Community Description <br /> <br />Idaho Springs is located in the Clear Creek Valley, in northeastern <br />Clear Creek County, Colorado. It is approximately 30 miles west of <br />Denver and 20 miles east of the Continental Divide of the Rocky <br />Mountains. <br /> <br />In 1970, the populations of Idaho Springs and Clear Creek County <br />were 1964 and 4780, respectively. A steady growth is expected for <br />both the city and county in the foreseeable future. <br /> <br />Clear, Chicago, and Soda Creeks drain approximately 192 square <br />miles, 48 square miles, and 14 square miles, respectively; Virginia <br />Canyon drains 2 square miles of the mountainous watershed above <br />Idaho Springs. Watershed elevations range from 14,270 feet atop <br />Gray's Peak at the Continental Divide to approximately 7600 feet at <br />Idaho Springs. <br /> <br />Climatic conditions are characteristic of a high-altitude, dry <br />continental climate. Sixty-seven years of record temperatures at <br />Idaho Springs indicate a high of approximately 920F, a low of <br />-320F, and a mean annual temperature of 43.40F. The normal annual <br />precipitation in the higher altitudes is in excess of 35 inches; at <br />Idaho Springs, the precipitation is approximately 15.9 inches <br />(Reference 1). <br /> <br />Vegetation varies throughout the Clear Creek watershed. In areas <br />above timberline, there are many rock outcroppings, and the steep <br />mountain slopes are practically void of vegetation. In the timber <br />and woodland areas, aspen, spruce, and pine stands predominate. <br /> <br />2 <br />