FLOOD04728

• County: Gunnison
• Community: Gunnison County and Unincorporated Areas
• Basin: Gunnison
• Title: FIS - Gunnison County and Unincorporated Areas
• Date: 9/29/1989
• Prepared For: Gunnison County
• Prepared By: FEMA
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Current FEMA Regulatory Floodplain Information

2.2 Community Description

Gunnison County is
bordered by Saguache
County to the east;
Delta, Montrose, and

located 10 southwestern
and Hinsdale Counties to
pitkin and Mesa Counties
Ouray Counties to the west.

Colorado and is
the south; Chaffee
to the north; and

The Gunnison River, formed by the confluence of the Taylor and
East Rivers at Almont, has a well-developed st ream pat tern wi th
inflowing tributaries from different directions. The larger of
these tributaries contributing to the flooding problems in the
study area include Ohio and Tomichi Creeks.

The North Fork Gunnison River is formed by the confluence of Muddy
and Anthracite Creeks near Paonia Dam. From its SOurce to its
mouth near Lazear, the stream flows approximately 30 miles on a
southwesterly course.

The average altitude of the Gunnison River Basin above the study
area is relatively high, ranging in elevation from approximately
7,600 feet above mean sea level at the Tomichi Creek confluence
wi th the Gunni son River to over 14,000 feet at the high peaks of
the Continental Divide.

The terrain of the basin 15 mostly mountainous with some broad
plains in the stream valleys between hills. These plains vary in
width and are in excess of 2 miles at certain locations. Alluvial
lands on the floodplains along streams consist primarily of
material recently deposited by the streams. The texture is widely
variable and commonly has very cobbly or stony areas interspersed
throughout.

Predominant vegeta.tion consists of pine, fir, and spruce in the
higher portions of the drainage area, while sagebrush and other
low-growing shrubs exi st in the lower port ions. Thick stands of
cottonwood thrive along the river.

Summers are cool in the study area with average high temperatures
of 80oF. Temperatures for summer nights usually drop below 50oF.
Temperatures have ranged from -470F in the winter to 960F in the
summer. The mean annual maximum temperature is 52oF, and the mean
annual minimum temperature is 17.50F.

The climate of the study area includes low precipitation, low
humidity, abundant sunshine, a wide daily temperature range, and
generally low winds. The surrounding mountains act as a barrier,
preventing the northern cold air or eastern storms from penetrat-
ing the Upper Gunnison River Valley.

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