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City of Rifle Flnod Hazard Mitigation Plan City of Rifle Flood Vulnerability situated in a narrow, shallow valley at the junc- tion of Rifle and Government creeks and north of the Colorado River. The Rifle Creek floodplain has been intensely developed and is devoted largely to residential, commercial and civic uses. The climate in the Upper Colorado River Basin can be characterized as semi-arid, except in the higher elevations where precipitation is moder- ately heavy, especially during the winter months. Precipitation ranges from less than 10 inches per year in the lower valleys to more than 50 inches per year on the higher peaks. While most precipitation over the basin occurs as snow, the Rifle Creek watershed is subjected to cloud- Community Description The City of Rifle is located in central Garfield County, in northwestern Colorado and is ap- proximately 28 miles west of Glenwood Springs, The City was incorporated in 1905, at which time the population was approximately 400 people. At the time of incorporation Rifle's economy con- sisted mainly of cattle and agricultural concerns, as well as the railroad. Today the city serves as the local center for retail trade, transportation, tourism and the recovery and processing ofmin- eral resources. The city has grown considerably, from an approximate 3,200 in 1980 to just over 5,000 in 1993. The commercial section of Rifle is VIEWS OF DAMAGE FROM RIFLE'S WORST RECORDED FLOOD, AUGUST 8, 1930 Courte.y. SUllanno Hart, Rifle Citiun Telegram 6 1 - VIeW where Meeker highway crosses Government Creek north 01 Rille, Iookingeasl:. 2 - Lee Clonch of Rffle. State Highway Palrolman,wl1olos1 his lte when ttle bridge onWeS1 Thirrl Stree: fell inlo Rifle C,eeI<. 3 - HJWay WaS'lollt on U.S. 40 Sou1~. just eaSl01 Vanadillm mll,easto!Rille, looking east. 4 - Washout of west approach 10 bridge over Rifle Creek on Oenver&Rio Grande Westem Ra~road, west of R~1e. Pile driver at work. Looking west. 5-BridgeonWest Third Street, showng new channel west of bridge and Ialen concrttepielSal west end of bridge. Looking nor1h. Lee Clonch Iosthislile standing upon this bri:lgeneartheleft lower corner.