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<br />2.0 AREA STUDIED <br /> <br />2.1 Scope of Study <br /> <br />This Flood Insurance Study covers the incorporated area of the Town <br />of Bayfield, La Plata County, Colorado. The area of study is shown <br />on the Vicinity Map (Figure 1). <br /> <br />Detailed analyses were performed on the Los Pinos River. This area <br />was approved by the community and the Federal Insurance Administration. <br /> <br />The area studied by detailed methods was chosen with consideration <br />given to all proposed construction and forecasted development through <br />1982. <br /> <br />2.2 Community Description <br /> <br />The Town of Bayfield is located in La Plata County, in the southwest <br />Colorado mountain region, and had a population of 350 in 1976. The <br />town is completely surrounded by unincorporated areas of La Plata <br />County. The economy of this area depends primarily on agricultural <br />activities and tourism. The flood plain development is mostly compris- <br />ed of residential development and relatively little commercial develop- <br />ment. <br /> <br />The Los Pinos River, which rises on the south Slopes of the San Juan <br />Mountains to an elevation of 12,000 feet, flows through the southwest <br />part of the ~own. The Los Pinos River watershed above Bayfield <br />covers 349 square miles in area, of which 270 square miles empties <br />into Vallecito Reservoir. The watershed consists of high mountainous <br />terrain with steep to moderately steep slopes. Elevation ranges from <br />6,900 feet to 12,000 feet. Due to the wide range of elevations, <br />vegetation varies from alpine trees in the high mountain country to <br />typical alder, aspen, and cottonwood trees along the valley bottoms. <br /> <br />The climate of the Bayfield area is temperate and semi-arid. Annual <br />precipitation in the area is approximately 14 inches, of which 6 <br />inches falls in the period from May through September. The annual <br />mean temperature is 450F, which varies from 660F in July to 2l0F in <br />January. Humidity is generally quite low, which allows for rapid <br />evaporation. <br /> <br />2.3 Principal Flood Problems <br /> <br />Generally, severe floods are caused by rainfall in the study area. <br />Rainstorms usually occur during the period from July through October. <br />This type of flood results from prolonged heavy rainfall over the <br />watershed and is characterized by high peak flows of moderate volume <br />and duration. Flooding is more severe when antecedent rainfall has <br />saturated the soils in the watershed. <br /> <br />2 <br />