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I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The potential for snowmelt flooding in Colorado heightened in January 1996 when an article in the Denver Post proclaimed "January Snuws Smashing Records" - ''It's been snowing so hard at Steamboat Springs this month that officials have been tieing helium balloons to the hats of kids in order to keep track of them." The average total snowfall for Colorado Ski Country USA's 21 members in January 1996 was 85.7 inches compared to 40.6 inches in January 1995 and 34.4 inches in January 1994. The amazing snowfall translated into more skiers on the slopes at resorts statewide. In the April 30th edition of the Rocky Mountain News headlines shouted "Streams May Be Ready To Rumble". At this time the Colorado Flood Task Force listed its "Top Ten" flood threat locations as follows: 1) Colorado River above Grand Junction, 2) Gunnison River above Gunnison, 3) Arkansas River above Canon City, 4) Boulder Creek near Ward and Nederland, 5) Clear Creek near Silver Plume and Georgetown, 6) Blue River, Snake River and Tenmile Creek above Dillon Reservoir, 7) Eagle River basin, particularly near Gypsum, 8) Fraser River above Granby, 9) Roaring Fork River basin, particularly near Basalt, and 10) Yampa River above Steamboat Springs. By May 24, Joe Garner of the Rocky Mountain News was writing "the flood threat has ended on Colorado's major rivers, but four streams could still cause problems." Peak flows were predicted for around June 8, 1996 according to Larry Lang, Colorado Flood Task Force Chairman. At that point, the following streams could leave their banks: I) the Yampa River near Steamboat Springs, 2) Tenmile Creek near Frisco, 3) the Blue River above Dillon Reservoir, and 4) Clear Creek near Georgetown. On June 11, Joe Garner wrote "five streams threaten to jump their banks in the next week before the risk from snowmelt flooding ends for the spring." In the same article Brian Hyde of the CWCB noted "The snowfields that could cause problems will be gone by the end of the week". And so went the efforts of floodplain managers statewide as they tiptoed through a snowmelt flood season of high potential. The snowmelt flood threat became reality in only a few communities. The Roaring Fork River near Basalt caused streambank erosion damage with undermining of the abutments of the Emma Bridge. Low lying areas near Steamboat Springs were inundated but most lands were either parks or agricultural land. Georgetown and Silver Plume squeaked by without a repeat of 1995 but Clear Creek did experience erosion of streambanks. Thunderstorm induced flooding was another story. Just ask the residents of Buffalo Creek following a fire in May and subsequent flood on July 12, 1996. So significant was this flood, that it's chronology has been tabulated in a separate document titled "Preliminary Findings On The July 12, 1996, Buffalo Creek Flood Event", Many other thunderstorm induced flood events occured during the summer months of 1996. Canon City was particularly hard hit. And severe weather even caused a tornado to touch down in the mountains near Divide, Colorado. The following "1996 Flood Report" will chronicle the flood events which impacted so many Coloradans.