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<br />I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY <br /> <br />As Colorado approached the winter of 1992-93, early snows in November indicated that <br />if storm tracks remained constant, the central and southern mountains could receive the highest <br />snowpack in recent years. In January 1993, as storms continued to affect the southern half of the <br />state, snow readings began to climb. As usual, March was a snowy month and readings soared <br />throughout the southern half of the mountainous areas of Colorado. <br /> <br />Preparations to address concerns regarding Colorado's abnormally high winter snowpack <br />began in earnest during March 1993 with a mailing to numerous local officials from the CWCB <br />which provided guidance about preparations for flooding. Next, meetings with communities that <br />responded to the March letter were scheduled for late April 1994. Then, during the week of <br />April 19-24, 1993 representatives of the Colorado Water Conservation Board, the State Engineer's <br />Office, the Colorado Office of Emergency Management, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers <br />performed field inspections of selected west slope locations to determine what levels of flood <br />threat existed for various communities. <br /> <br />Significant snowmelt runoff began in the second week of Mayas streams across western <br />Colorado swelled due to higher temperatures. Then, on the (:vening of May 15-16, 1993 a <br />thunderstorm centered over the Government Creek basin north of Rifle dumped 2.5 inches of <br />water in a 4-hour period. The resulting flash flood damaged 12-13 homes and businesses in Rifle <br />causing an estimated $150,000 in losses. Additionally, vehicles wen: swept away from several <br />locations and estimates of losses totalled $50,000. <br /> <br />On May 28, 1993, 1.5 inches of rain feU on melting snow abov,~ Paonia in a 5-hour period <br />causing the North Fork of the Gunnison River to approach 100-year flood levels. The high water <br />event precipitated bank erosion to agricultural land throughout this portion of Delta County. The <br />Town of Paonia's flood control facilities, comprised mostly of bank annoring, were severely <br />damaged. <br /> <br />This report provides an explanation and accounting of I) the flood threat posed by the <br />heavy snowpack, 2) the actual flood events, and 3) the flood response by state and local officials <br />during the 1993 flood season. <br /> <br />The CWCB's flood response actions included I) anticipation, 2) preparation, 3) response, <br />and 4) follow-up actions to mitigate future flooding impacts. <br />