FLOOD04209

• County: Gunnison
• Community: Gunnison
• Stream Name: Gunnison River, Tomichi Creek
• Basin: Gunnison
• Title: Floodplain Information Study
• Date: 1/12/1976
• Prepared For: Gunnison County
• Prepared By: Engineering Consultants
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Floodplain Report/Masterplan

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Available documentation of the ice jamming problems by U.S. Bureau of Recla-
mation indicates the following:

On December 13, 1970 ice jams formed in the Gunnison River channel at the Cooper
Ranch causing the river to flood the cabin area. The history of this jam started on Decem-
ber 3, when Army Engineers reported that some ice jamming was occurring at the head of
the Blue Mesa Reservoir. It was suggested that releases from Taylor Park Reservoir be in-
creased to 400 cfs. On December 4, 1970 it was found that increased releases fonn the
Taylor Park further increased the jam above Blue Mesa and was suggested that these re-
leases be cut back to 200 cfs. On December 7, it was observed that the river was filled
with ice to a point approximately 400 feet up the river above Blue Mesa right-of-way
boundary. A warm trend between December 7 and December 11 caused a channel to
open through the ice jam. On December 13 the manager of the Cooper Ranch (2BR
Ranch) reported an ice jam in the river causing flooding of the cabin area. As a result
of this jam releases from Taylor Park Reservoir were reduced from 210 cfs to 50 cfs., On
December 14, the river channel was jammed with ice to a point immediately above the
Neversink Resort area; however, no flooding at Neversink was reported. The flow of
water through the cabin area at the Cooper Ranch was repa-ted to be receding. By De-
cember 16 the ice jam was worse at the Neversink Resort with water approaching the
lower cabins, also higher flows were reported in the cabin area at the Cooper Ranch.
This jam moved upstream to a point midway be1ween Neversink and the McCabe Bridge
forcing water out of the main river channel. By January 4, 1971 the ice jam was up to
the McCabe Bridge, and by January 7th it reached the lower end of'the Dos Rios area
forcing water around the last home in the area. On January 8th the Anny Engineers be-
gan to construct a dike along the river bank to keep the water from the homes. On Jan-
uary 9th a warming trend began fonning an open channel through the ice jam from the
Dos Rios area down to the McCabe Bridge. However, the water continued to flood the
Cooper Ranch and Neversink Resort areas.

During the Fall of 1971 the Corps of Engineers completed a clearing and snag re-

movel operation upstream of Blue Mesa Reservoir and construction of higher banks along

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