FLOOD04717 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

STUDY AREA DESCRIPTION Communitv Description Buena Vista is located in central Colorado in the Rocky Mountains, It is in Chaffee County, and is located approximately 70 air miles west of Colorado Springs and approximately 90 air miles southwest of Denver, Highway 24 is the major north-south highway that serves the town, The town sits along the Arkansas River at an elevation of about 7,950 feet. The area studied for the FIS is the incorporated areas of the Town of Buena Vista as of March 30, 1982, Section 2,2 of the FIS provides additional information regarding the community, Watershed Description Buena Vista is located in the Upper Arkansas River Valley in central Chaffee County, The Arkansas River flows along the eastern edge of Buena Vista, Cottonwood Creek is a major right bank tributary that joins the Arkansas River at Buena Vista The Arkansas River and Cottonwood Creek are the two major flooding sources within the incorporated areas of the town, The headwaters of the Arkansas River originate at the Continental Divide with elevations in excess of 14,000 feet. The majestic peaks of the Collegiate Range are located just to the west of Buena Vista, Section 2.2 of the PIS provides additional information regarding the watershed, Floodinl!: Problems and Floodilll!: History Flooding in Buena Vista generally occurs during the spring and summer months as a result of flooding from rapid snowmelt runoff, thunderstorms, general rainstorms, or a combination thereof, Snowmelt flooding is characterized by moderate peak flows with a large volume of water over a relatively long duration, Rainfall flooding is characterized by higher peak flows with a smaller volume of water over a shorter duration, The majority of the flood problems along the two major streams in Buena Vista are caused by rapid melting of heavy snowpack in the spring and summer. Flooding potential also exists from short and long duration rain storms, There have been very few documented flood problems in the Buena Vista area, The most recent high water occurred on the Arkansas River during the summer of 1995. Significant high water in the town was also reported in July of 1957, The 1957 flood on Cottonwood Creek had an estimated frequency of I DO-years, Section 2.3 of the FIS provides additional information regarding the flooding problems and flooding history, Previous Studies A report entitled "Flood Hazard Analyses, Cottonwood Creek in the Vicinity of Buena Vista, Chaffee County, Colorado" dated July 1978 was prepared by the SCS in cooperation with the 2