FLOOD04846

• County: Otero
• Community: La Junta
• Basin: Arkansas
• Title: Local Pre-disaster Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan
• Date: 10/1/1998
• Prepared For: La Junta
• Prepared By: CWCB
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Flood Mitigation/Flood Warning/Watershed Restoration

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Company and the Arkansas Valley Co-op, where toxic, explosive and flammable
material is stored in tanks and similar floatable containers, if unrestrained, could be
carried downstream to threaten areas far removed, Also considered critical is the North
La Junta Bridge and Colorado 109 where, if closed, access to North La Junta and La
Junta Gardens would be cut off to emergency vehicles, other than a more 'round about
way via Swink, north on County Road 24.5, and back into North La Junta via County
Road 28

3.

Natural Areas: The Arkansas River floodplain lands and adjacent waters combine to
form a complex system of water, living and societal resources, natural flood and
erosion control, water filtering processes and a variety of habitats for flora and fauna,
as well as a focus for human activities such as commerce, agriculture, residence and
infrastructure.

4,

Future Development: Planning commissions for both the City of La Junta and Otero
County have developed comprehensive land use plans, which address floodplain
development, zoning and other land use regulations. Additionally, upon entrance into
the NFIP, La Junta and Otero County adopted the minimum standards of the program,
and set regulations to monitor development. La Junta and Otero County exceed the
NFIP's minimum standards in one respect: all new residential development must be
constructed one (1) foot above the level of the 100-year flood.

5.

Problem Statement: The base flood on the Arkansas River affects approximately 150
homes, 12 businesses and six light industries. This is the area mapped as the "A Zone"
on the Flood Insurance Rate Map.

Flooding on the Arkansas River affects about 100 homes in the North La Junta and La
Junta Gardens Subdivisions. This area faces the greatest threat and most frequent
damage from flooding and is designated Priority Area #1. (Area identified on attached
maps as plate(s) 5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12.)

Critical facilities in the Arkansas River floodplain are the City of La Junta's well fields
from which it obtains its water; the Otero County Sherifi's Department, the North La
Junta Bridge and Colorado Hwy 109. While flooded only twice during the last 50
years, the impact of flooding on the water well field is so great that it is designated as
Priority Area #2, (Area identified on attached maps as plate(s) 6,11.)

The Arkansas River floodplain is a unique local asset that should be preserved and
protected. It is designated as Priority Area #3, (Area identified on attached maps as all
plate( s) I through 15,)

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