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Flooding caused by the overflow of the Yarnpa River and Dry Creek were studied in detail. Flooding on small tributaries to Dry Creek and shallow flooding caused by ponding of runoff were studied by approximate methods. Areas of approximate study were studied in this manner due to the lack of development within the drainage areas. Special hydrologic studies of the J.C. Temple Reservoir were prepared to determine the effects the darn has on the flood hazard potential in Hayden. The reservoir is located in the Dry Creek Basin, approxi- mately 4 miles south of Hayden. Detailed studies were made based on current conditions and foresee- able development through 1981. 2.2 Community Description The Town of Hayden, located in western Routt County, Colorado, lies approximately 25 miles west of the Town of Steamboat Springs, which is the county seat, 17 miles east of the City of Craig, and 130 miles northwest of and across the Continental Divide from Denver. Hayden was incorporated in 1906. Because of coal development to meet energy demands, Hayden has been experiencing rapid growth. Over the last 3 years, the population of Hayden increased from 760 to approximately 1900, or 150 percent, and is expected to increase by 11 percent per year for the next 15 years (Reference 1). The economy of the area is very diversified, including agriculture, coal mining, and industry. The Yampa River, which flows parallel with the northern corporate limits, originates in the Park Range to the east, and flows approxi- mately 75 miles before reaching the Hayden area. The flood plain of the Yampa River at Hayden varies in width, but averages approximately 0.75 mile. A small tributary, Dry Creek, enters the Yampa River from the south, through the western portion of the town. Several small intermittent tributaries to Dry Creek flow through the southern corporate limits. In general, commercial areas and older residential structures are located alonq u.s. Highway 40, which runs through a broad, level plain. Areas currently under development as residential subdivisions, including a small area reserved for commercial development, are generally located on the gently sloping elevated mesas in the most southern corporate limits. There are also powerplants located in the Town of Hayden. Hayden, in general, lies at an elevation of 6380 feet National Geo- detic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD). A considerable percentage of the surrounding area is on higher mesas that slope to the north and south. The soils within the Hayden Valley area are generally classified as clayey to loamy type soil. Average annual precipita- tion is between 15 and 20 inches, and the average annual soil temperature is less than 470F. 3