FLOOD09597

• County: Gunnison
• Community: Marble Area
• Basin: Gunnison
• Title: Engineering Geologic Factors of the Marble Area
• Date: 6/1/1972
• Prepared For: Gunnison County
• Prepared By: Colorado Geological Survey
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Educational/Technical/Reference Information

~ 15 -

canyon and the Crystal River has a history of similar but much larger

mud floods than those described on Slate Creek (figure 9, and plate 1).
The area affected by periodic recent mud floods from Carbonate Creek

covers approximately twice the area of the Slate Creek flows (2b,

plate 1). The most recent catastrophic mud floods on Carbonate Creek

occurred in 1936, 1941 and 1945, and smaller floods are reported nearly

every year. This area of active mudflow hazard is within the townsite

of Marble; however, we bel!evethat construction activities related to

recreational, residential, or Other development anywhere within the

watershed of Carbonate Creek could profoundly increase the threat of

mud and water flooding in the lower reaches of Carbonate Creek. In

addition, it is possible that a major landslide from the slopes of
Mt. Daly or the steep shale blQffs west of Carbonate Creek could divert
the creek to another course oVer the older mudflow fan. Photogeologic

studies and limited field inspection of the steep basin rim between the

north end of Gallo Bluff and Mt. Daly indicate active as well as old
mudflows and potential debris avalanches which are additional reasons

for carefully evaluating the Water and mud flood potential of the

entire drainage basin as a part of any proposed construction or develop-

ment.

. Older Mudflow Area (2c)
A third area for caution in possible area development is the cen-

tral part of the mudflow fan area, which is not currently traversed by

active flood channels of either of the major streams. This is somewhat

deceptive since (as will be described later) Slate Creek was diverted

from this area to its present course in historic times by residents of

Marble.