FLOOD05471

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

2.0 AREA STUDIED

2.1 Scope of Study

This Flood Insurance Study covers
Morgan County, Colorado. The areas
Vicinity Map (Figure 1).

the
of

unincorporated areas
study are shown on

of
the

Beaver Creek was studied by detailed methods from Interstate 76 to
a point approximately 11,130 feet upstream from its confluence with
Upper Piatte and Beaver Canal, a reach of approximately 7.4 miles.

The South Platte River was studied by approximate methods from a
point approximately 900 feet downstream of the county road at
Balzac to the Weld County line, a reach of approximately 47 miles.

The areas studied by detailed methods were selected based on the
extent and validity of available existing hydrologic and hydraulic
data.

Approximate methods of analysis were used
remaining areas having a potential flood hazard
available detailed scientific or technical data.

to study alL the
that did not have

2.2 Community Description

Morgan County is located
Fort Morgan is the county
on the west and north,
Washington County on the
the south.

in the northeastern corner of Colorado;
seat. Morgan County borders Weld County
Logan County on the northeast corner,
east and southeast, and Adams County on

According to the 1980 U.S. Bureau of the Census, Morgan County
covers an area of 1,276 square miles and has a population of
22,513. This is a 12-percent increase from its 1970 population of
20,105 (Reference 3).

The mean annual temperature for the county is
month is July, with a mean temperature of 740F.
precipitation for the county is 13 inches,
average of 26 inches of snowfall (Reference 3).

48.90F; the warmest
The average annual
which includes an

The South Platte River floodpLain ln Morgan County is used
primarily for agriculture. Except for the areas adjacent to
incorporated communities such as Fort Morgan, existing floodplain
development consists mostly of farm and ranch buildings.

The vegetation in the
The predominant soi Is
soils with smaller
(Reference 1).

area includes
in the area
amounts of

farm crops and prairie grasses.
consist of sand and sandy loam
silt loam and clay loam

2