FLOOD05252

• Designation Number: 303
• County: Garfield
• Community: Parachute
• Stream Name: Parachute Creek and Colorado River
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Title: Floodplain Information Report - Parachute Creek and Colorado River
• Date: 10/1/1989
• Designation Date: 1/1/1990
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Floodplain Report/Masterplan

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FLOODPLAIN INFORMATION REpORr
(x)IDRAOO RIVER AND PARACH(]l'E CREEK
PARACHUTE, COIDRAOO

INTRDDlJCrION

The Town of Parachute is located in western Garfield County along the
Colorado River. Incorporated in 1908 as Grand Valley, the town's nama was
changed in 1981 to Parachute when oil shale development was in rapid progress.
In order to properly regulate developnent in the area, am to aid in
administration of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), the towns of
DeBeque and Parachute, and Garfield and Mesa Counties began an analysis of the
local floodplains to determine the extent of existing and potential flood
hazards in 1982. This work was carried out under the auspices of the Colorado
Water Conservation Board (CWCB).

In August 1985, the U. S. D. A. Soil Conservation Service (SCS) published a
report of the detailed analysis of Parachute Creek in the vicinity of Parachute,
and Roan Creek in the vicinity of DeBeque, Colorado (reference 2). The SCS
conducted the technical studies and prepared the report according to a Plan of
Work between the SCS and CWCB dated December, 1982.

In December 1986, the Town of Parachute requested J. E. Langford and
Associates to check certain cross sections used in the floodplain analysis of
Parachute Creek and to review the results of the technical studies performed by
the SCS. The result of the review was a recollllrendation to the Town that the
floodplain analysis of Parachute Creek within the Town limits be modified to
incorporate new topographic data and different assumptions regarding hydraulic
modelling of flood discharges along Parachute Creek.

Purpose and Scope:

This report has been prepared at the request of the Town of Parachute to
present the revised engineering data and assumptions used in the technical
analysis of Parachute Creek and to document the modifications in the floodplain

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