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<br />discharge at Lawson. Sno",welt flooding threatened lives and property when overbank flood <br />conditions occurred in Georgeto\'ill during the 1995 flood season. <br /> <br />South Platte River: Large floods on the river were reported in 1844, 1864, 1867, 1894, ]921, 1933, <br />J942, 1965, 1973, and most recently in 1995, The 1965 flood was one of the top 5 most notable <br />floods in Colorado's recorded history. An extremely high mountain snowpack during the spring of <br />1995 produced major runoff in the South Platte basin that year. Chatfield Reservoir was utilized to <br />store a large volume of t100dwater runoff. <br /> <br />Buffalo Creek: The commlmity of Buffalo Creek, located in southern Jefferson County, <br />experienced a double disaster in the spring/summer of 1996, An intense wildfire in May 1996 <br />bumed thousands of acres of forested area in the Buffalo Creek watershed, which resulted in a <br />major change in the hydrologic response (increased runoff) in the basin, Shortly after the May <br />forest fire, a severe thunderstonu on July 12, 1996 produced intense rainfall (up to 4" in one hour) <br />over the lower portions of the Buffalo Creek watershed. The results were catastrophic. Two lives <br />were lost and millions of dollars in damage were realized. Peak discharges on Buffalo Creek and <br />Sand Draw were estimated to be on the order of 15,000 cfs and 7,000 cfs, respectively. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Previous Studies <br />The 1989 Flood Insurance Study for Jefferson County represents the first revision of the original <br />FIS published by FEMA in August J 986 (eWCB designation number 282). There are a significant <br />number of floodplain studies completed by engineering firms under contract with the Urban <br />Drainage & Flood Control District (UDFCD), The UDFCD work consists mainly of Flood Hazard <br />Area Delineations and Drainage Master Plans for various stream reaches in the county. County <br />staff have also produced drainage reports such as the "Pleasant View Drain,age Study" that was <br />published in November 1975. All of the incorporated municipalities within the county have Flood <br />Insurance Studies or other types of floodplain infonnation and drainage reports. Federal agencies <br />such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have produced stream-specific floodplain infonuation <br />reports for the South Platte River, Bear Creek, Clear Creek, and other streams. <br /> <br />Community Re.~ponse to the CWCB Desilwation and Approval Process <br />A letter trom the CWCB was transmitted to Jefferson County regarding the Board's proposed <br />action for designation and approval of the Jefferson County FlS. A meeting was then held between <br />CWeB staff and County officials to discuss floodplain mapping needs and the eWCB's <br />designation and approval process, Floodplain mapping needs in the county are significant at this <br />time due to technical mapping problems, changes in corporate boundaries, extreme growth and <br />development in certain areas, <br /> <br />The County was receptive (() the Board's proposed designation action, and verbally consented to <br />the eWeB's designation and approval of the effective FIS being utilized by the cOUllty. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />3 <br />