FLOOD04301

• County: Delta
• County: La Plata
• County: Gunnison
• Community: Pitkin, Delta, La Plata, Gunnison, & Routt County
• Basin: Western Slope
• Title: Appendix to 1993 Colorado Flood Report
• Date: 6/1/1994
• Prepared By: CWCB
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Flood Documentation Report

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INTRODUCTION

The Town of Crested Butte, Colorado made a request to the State of Colorado for
technical assistance regarding the flood potential from the Spring 1993 snowmelt runoff.
This request was referred to the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) at a
Gunnison County meeting in Gunnison, Colorado on April22, 1993. In response to the
Town's request, the CWCB conducted a meeting with the Town officials on May 12, 1993
to inspect the Coal Creek Channel and floodplain in order to ascertain flood risk areas.
The Town requested that the CWCB analyze the staff gages which were previously
'installed. The CWCB evaluated the gages to determine if they were representative of
1993 runoff conditions.

DISCUSSION

. The CWCB evaluation for the Coal Creek channel and floodplain through Crested
Butte entailed the following tasks:

. Analyze the past and existing snowpack for the watershed;

. Review the staff gage rating curves for Coal Creek;

. Provide temperature reviews for the years 1978, 1984 and
1993;

. Re-evaluate and develop a 1993 rating curve for the 1st Street
Bridge and Maroon Street Bridge staff gages;

. Assess potential flooding problems; and

. Outline a procedure for developing a "Flood Preparedness
Plan" for Crested Butte.

DETAILS / FINDINGS

Analyze the Past and Existing Snowpack for the Watershed

Using the Butte USDA SCS snotel station, the existing snowpack for the Crested
Butte area is:

~
05/16/93
05/18/93
OS/20/93
OS/21/93

'93 Water Content

30 Yr. Avg. W,C.

% of Avg.

7.6
6.7
5.9
5.5

222
234
244
242

16.9
15.7
14.4
133

For May 1st of 1978, 1983, 1984, and 1993, see the respective values stated in I. and II.
in the runoff outlook.