FLOOD07056

• County: Larimer
• Community: Estes Park
• Stream Name: Roaring,Fall, and Big Thompson Rivers
• Basin: South Platte
• Title: Photographs of the Lawn Lake Dambreak Flood - Cover Sheet
• Date: 7/15/1982
• Prepared For: CWCB
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Flood Documentation Report

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ACTIVITIES OF THE COLORADO WATER CONSERVATION BOARD
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
F.oLLOWING THE
FALL RIVER FLOOD OF yULY 15, 1982

Responsibilities

The Colorado' Water Conservation Board is the agency of the
state government responsible for.general water resources
planning. The Flood Control and Floodplain Management Section of
the Board has established several programs intended to develop
floodplain information. Under the Flood Data Collection and
Documentation P~ogram, the Board has the authority to gather data
and informabion looking toward the greater utilization of the
waters of the state and the prevention of floods, to make
investigations and surveys, and to prepare written reports on the
resul tsof various studies for the use of any' interested person.

The fOllowing data and information has been or is presently
being collected by the staff following the Lawn Lake dam break
and subsequent flooding on the Roaring River, Fall River, and the
Big Thompson River.

Flood Water Surface Profile

Field reconnaissance of flood high water marks and flood
boundaries was made by staff on July 15 and 16, and a water
surface profile of the flood has been drawn for the Big Thompson
River and Fall River from Lake Estes to the upstream 'town limits
(approximately 3 miles). A flood profile for the 1-1/2 mile
reach in Larimer County from theitown limits to the Park boundary
is also being prepared. The 10-j 50-, 100-, and SOO-year flood
profiles within the town of Estes Park are also shown for
comparison.

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Flood Boundary Map

Using the above profile, aerial photographs, and flood
outlines verified in the field, the dam break flood has been
drawn on detailed topographic maps (1" = 100' and 2 foot contour
interval). The maps were used to develop the Flood Insurance
study for Est.es Park and were flown in December, 1971 and
extend from the park boundary to Lake Estes. The 100-year and
SOO-year floodplains within the corporate limits of Estes Park
will also be shown for comparison.

Flood Discharge Profile

The Board intends to prepare a discharge profile of the
flood peak by setting up the computer model used in the Flood,
Insurance Study and finding the discharge(s) that best fits the
flood profile and flood outline for Fall River.

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