FLOOD04884

• County: Moffat
• Community: Craig
• Stream Name: Yampa River, Fortification Creek
• Basin: Yampa/White
• Title: Flood Hazard Information Hydrology
• Date: 9/1/1976
• Prepared For: State of Colorado
• Prepared By: US Army Corps of Engineers
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Floodplain Report/Masterplan

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HYDROLOGY FOR CRAIG, COLORADO FLOOD !IAZARD INFORMATION STUDY

1. .Purpose - This report presents hydrologic data for use :t11. the Craig,
Colo~ado Flood Hazard Information Study" Peak flows and hydrographs haVE'
been developed for the 10, 50, 100, 500 year and standard project floods
at the stream index points shown on Chart 2.

2. .Basin description - Craig is located In the northern pOlcti.on of
Colorado approximately 140 air miles northwest of Denver. The Yampa
Rive~ and Fortification Creek, a tribut~lry of the Yampa Riv'~r, are the
pr:l.n,oipal streams in the area. Cedar Hountain Gulch, Pine R:I.dge Gulch,
and several small tributaries of Fortification Creek also have, an impact
on the flood problems in Craig. Streams and drainage areas are shown on
Charts 1 and 2.

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Hevations in the Yampa River basin range from about 6200 feet at
Crai:~ to over 12000 feet along the cOIl.dnental divide. The Fortification
Creek basin ranges in elevation from about 6200 feet to about 11000 feet.
Rol.llng hills with narrow valleys along the streams typ5.fy the,
topography around Craig. The mountainous portions of the bElsins are
conslderably steeper. Stream slopes on Fortification Creek range from
over 1000feet per mile in the headwaters to about 10 feet per m:I1e
at C:raig. Stream slopes on the Yampa River range from 5 fe"t per m:I1e
at C:raig to over 1200 feet per mile in the headwaters.

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'7egetation around Craig consists of grasses and sagebru,;h. Portions
of the area are cultivated to various grain and hay crops. Brush along
with forests of aspen, pine, fir and spruce ljrow at the higher elevations.

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Ranching and agriculture have been the prind.pal economic activities
in the area. Recently the development ,o,f coal dep,osits in the area
with associated power plant construction has had a substantial impact on
the .economy.

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lfater resource development in the area is limited to small stream
divel:sions for irrigation and water supply plus several small reservoirs
consl:ructed by the Colorado Division of l-]j.ldlife and Parks and Outdoor
Recr'~ation primarily for recreation purpos,es. These reserv(li~s are listed
in dle following tabulation.

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