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<br />~ <br /> <br />Basin Plan (1993) identifies specific areas within Old Town with particular flood <br />problems such as the intersections of LaPorte and Shields, Mason and Mulberry, <br />Locust and Whitcomb, Locust and Whedbee, Plum and Bluebell, and Magnolia and <br />Washington Streets. Average annual flood damages for the Old Town drainage basin <br />were determined to be $585,000. <br /> <br />Of the total 797 structures described above, there are approximately 220 structures <br />(1995 inventory) in the Poudre River Floodplain that includes some buildings located <br />in the County jurisdiction. The Poudre River Master Plan estimates $6 million of <br />property damage that may occur along the River during the 100-year flood. <br /> <br />Spring Creek has approximately 34 structures in the floodplain (1995 inventory). <br />Following recent (1983-1993) channel, culvert, and bridge improvements and a <br />revised FlS (I996), a substantial number of structures have been removed from the <br />regulatory floodplain, including 41 structures that were acquired by the City and <br />removed. <br /> <br />.- <br /> <br />There are currently (I995) 542 commercial and residential structures in the Dry <br />Creek 100-year floodplain within the City limits. Of the 542 structures, there are <br />approximately 101 commercial and 441 residential structures. In addition, there are <br />675 residential and 254 commercial structures in the 500-year floodplain. The <br />estimated damages resulting from the 100-year flood is $5.779,700 (1990 dollars). <br />Because of the network of irrigation canals which intercept small to moderate flood <br />flows and much of the excess drainage from entering the lower Dry Creek basin, a <br />false perception of the flood hazard prevailed resulting in development of the lower <br />Dry Creek basin before floodplain regulations, design criteria, or basin master plans <br />were established. These canals, however. do not have the capacity to intercept larger <br />flood flows, such as the lOO-year event, and increased drainage flows from new <br />development in the lower basin of Dry Creek is already increasing the magnitude and <br />frequency of those flows. <br /> <br />Fossil Creek has no structures in the floodplain. "Erosion buffer limits" were <br />established to protect man-made structures from the instability of the river system. <br />The erosion buffer limits establish minimum setback for development near Fossil <br />Creek, thereby eliminating all development within the flood and erosion hazard area. <br /> <br />Specific Causes of the Problem <br /> <br />Meteorology <br /> <br />Floods are the number one natural disaster in the United States with regard to loss of <br />life and property (NWS, 1985). Since 1970 the fatality rate averaged 200 people per <br />year and flood damages typically are more than $5 billion dollars annually (Johnson <br />1986). The risk to life and property associated with flooding continues to rise each <br />year because development of flood prone areas continues. <br /> <br />.- <br /> <br />The National Weather Service (NWS) provides flood warning and streamflow <br />forecasting services to communities throughout the United States. The NWS <br /> <br />15 <br />