FLOOD07506

• County: La Plata
• Community: Durango
• Basin: San Juan/Dolores
• Title: FIS - Durango
• Date: 5/21/2001
• Prepared For: Durango
• Prepared By: FEMA
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Current FEMA Regulatory Floodplain Information

2.2 Community Description

The City of Durango is located in central La Plata County, in the
mountainous region of southwest Colorado. The city had a population
of approximately 11,500 in 1980 (Reference 2).

Agriculture, retail trade, and the lumber industry have continued to
play important roles in the economy of the city since it became a
trading and manufacturing center for the nearby mines, ranches, and
farms during the early years. New factors affecting the economic
base of the cOllllllunity include Ft. Lewis College, tourism, and the
recreation industry.

From the San Juan Mountains, the Animas River flows southerly
through steep, narrow canyons into the nearly l-mite-wide Animas
Valley, which extends for approximately 15 miles to Durango.
Elevations in the Animas River drainage vary from 12,000 feet along
the southwestern slopes of the San Juan Mountains to approximately
6,500 feet at Durango. The drainage area of the Animas River is
approximately 692 square miles at Durango. The Animas River at
Durango is a relatively straight, swiftly flowing stream with a
narrow floodplain, The flood-carrying capacity of the Animas River
in this area is relatively small.

The Junction Creek watershed, which is a tributary of the Animas
River at Durango, covers approximately 39 square miles. Junction
Creek rises in the La Plata Mountains to the northwest of Durango at
elevations greater than 12,000 feet. The watershed consists of
high, mountainous terrain, with steep to moderately steep slopes.
Within the study area, Junction Creek has a well-defined channel
that is capable of passing minor floodflows without significant
property damage.

The drainage basin of Dry Gulch Creek, which covers approximately 4
square miles, is si tuated between the lower port ions of the bas ins
of Lightner and Junction Creeks. The headwater elevations for Dry
Gulch Creek are in excess of 8,000 feet, Dry Gulch Creek joins
Junction Creek approximately 0.5 mile upstream from the Animas
River.

The climate of the study area LS semi-arid. The annual
precipitation ranges from greater than 50 inches in the headwater
regions to approximately 18 inches in Durango. In the study area, 8
inches of the annual precipitation falls from May through September.
The annual mean temperature is approximately 450F and varies from
660F in July to 210F in January. Humidity is generally quite low;
therefore, rapid evaporation is possible.

Although much of Durango has been developed, the majority of the
100-year floodplain lies in undeveloped areas.

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