Laserfiche WebLink
<br />Background Narrative <br /> <br />Clear Creek County, located between Jefferson County and Summit County along the <br />Interstate 70 (1-70) corridor, is one of the smallest counties in Colorado. Rapid growth, <br />unanticipated and ineffectively planned for, continues to impact Clear Creek County. The <br />development of a comprehensive "Master Plan" could reduce repetitive damage costs <br />incurred from flood and fire damage throughout the county. Flood repairs to Virginia <br />Canyon Road alone have cost more than $500,000 in the past three years. Fire and <br />medical protection costs have soared to well more than $1 million annually. Gaming, <br />introduced six years ago in adjacent Gilpin County, and the Colorado ski and recreation <br />industry have increased 1-70 traffic through Clear Creek County by 500 percent. Regular <br />Sunday afternoon traffic counts from the Eisenhower Tunnel log more than 48,500 vehicles <br />passing through. Colorado State Patrol (CSP) surveys show that 80 percent of that figure <br />is affiliated with one of these two industries. County Road and Bridge Department <br />statistics show that gaming traffic over Virginia Canyon Road has increased by 600 <br />percent. Demand for housing has forced new areas to be considered for subdivisions. <br />The outside pressures for growth forces the county and local governments to find solutions <br />and prepare for future disaster risks. Master planning is the decided focus effort. A <br />Geographical Information Systems (GIS) hazards overlay written into the Master Plan will <br />be the first step in building this disaster resistant community. <br /> <br />Due to the topography, Clear Creek County experiences severe thunderstorm activity and <br />annual spring snowmelt that cause flash floods. Each year, it threatens many lives of <br />citizens, visitors, and recreation seekers. In 1997 Witter Gulch (in the east end of the <br />county) was declared a Presidential Disaster (#1186) after reports of 5 to 11 inches of rain <br />within three to five hours. Experts in the field insist that flash floods do not occur over <br />7,500 feet in elevation. After a half million dollars in emergency flood damage repair and <br />survey documentation, it was realized that flash floods do, in fact, occur and destroy <br />property at 7,500 feet elevation. The Georgetown flood of 1995 caused by, both, quick <br />spring thaw and thunderstorms brought damages of $635,000 to the town. <br /> <br />Lightning and camping-related wildland fires frequently occur, threatening residents and <br />wildlife. The Colorado State Forest Service reported seven notable forest fires in Clear <br />Creek County last year. The Bear Trak Fire consumed more than 500 acres. Had there <br />been a wind shift, hundreds of residents would have been in immediate fire danger. Flood <br />and mud slide vulnerability always follows. Fire suppression alone cost $1.4 million. The <br />clean-up and vegetation efforts are just beginning. <br /> <br />3 <br /> <br />/ <br />