FLOOD04613

• Designation Number: 133
• County: Chaffee
• Community: Buena Vista
• Stream Name: Cottonwood Creek
• Basin: Arkansas
• Title: Flood Hazard Analysis - Cottonwood Creek in the Vicinity of Buena Vista, Chaffee County, CO
• Date: 7/1/1978
• Designation Date: 3/1/1979
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Floodplain Report/Masterplan

I NTRODUCT I ON

This study was requested by Chaffee County, and the town of Buena Vista

through the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB). As coordinator

for all water studies in the state, the CWCB establishes priorities and

schedules these studies on a priority basis. The CWCB a~d the Soil

Conservation Service entered into a Joint Coordination Agreement for

flood hazard analyses in January 1972, The Plan of Study for Cottonwood
Creek was prepared in December 1976.

FLOOD HAZARD ANALYSES
COTTONWOOD CREEK
IN THE VICINITY OF BUENA VISTA
CHAFFEE COUNTY, COLORADO

This flood hazard analyses report presents the results of a study on the

flood plain lands of Cottonwood Creek in the vicinity of Buena Vista,

Colorado. It was prepared by the U. S. Department of Agriculture, Soil

Conservation Service, in cooperation with the Colorado Water Conservation

Board, Chaffee County, and the town of Buena Vista.

Flood hazard analyses are carried out by the Soil Conservation Service

as an outgrowth of the recommendations in A Report by the. Task Foree on

Federal Flood Control Poliey. House Document No. 465 (89th Congress,

August 10, 1966), especially Recommendation 9(c), ReguUztion of Land

Use. which recommended the preparation of preliminary reports for

guidance in those areas where assistance is needed before a full flood

hazard information report can be prepared or where a full report is not

scheduled.

Primary purpose of this report is to provide large scale detailed

mapping and flood hazard information. Without detailed mapping, it is

very difficult to implement a workable flood plain management program

which will minimize potential flood losses, Detailed flood hazard maps

are needed to administer flood plain management regulations. Included

in the report are engineering and hydrologic data which will facilitate

the use of the maps. The data should be useful in developing a master

drainage plan, in road and bridge plans and design, and in the planning

of channel modification, and flood control structures - if needed. The

report contains interpretations of the flood hazard analyses and recom-

mendations to reduce flood damages. However, it is beyond the scope of

this study to provide specific proposals or plans to rectify the flood-

ing problems,

Authority for funding flood hazard analyses is provided by Section 6 of
Public Law 83-566, which authorizes the U. S. Department of Agriculture
to cooperate with other federal, state, and local agencies to make
investigations and surveys of the watersheds of rivers and other water

ways as a basis for the development of coordinated programs. In carry-

ing out flood hazard analyses, the Soil Conservation Service is being

res pons i ve to Execut ive Order II 988, ent i tIed "Flood PI a i n Management",

(effective May 24, 1977).

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