By Shannon Lukens.
It’s warming up and the spring runoff is rapidly rising. City staff in Steamboat Springs will help property owners with site visits and advice on how to protect your property from flooding. Sign up for Routt County Alerts at RouttCountyAlerts.com so you will be notified of any emergency or important community news.
The Routt County Office of Emergency Management also has a High Water Flooding Preparedness Guide.
And also, watch the weather for any heavy spring storms.
Press Release from the City of Steamboat Springs; April 15, 2024.
Warming Weather Signals Spring Runoff Rapidly Approaching
What You Can Do to Prepare for High Water, Manage Stormwater & Construction Sites
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO-April 15, 2024-After a week with temperatures creeping into the 60s and forecasts calling for continued precipitation and warming, the community should be ready for rising water levels as melting snowpack turns up the intensity on the spring runoff faucet.
“While peak flows can vary, the Yampa River generally peaks in late May to early June, while other neighboring creeks can peak significantly earlier in the year,” said Stormwater Specialist & Engineering Inspector Scott Slamal. “While it might seem early, residents and construction sites should take precautions now because once the water is flowing, it’ll be too late.”
With numerous construction projects around the city, the following is required to minimize pollutants entering waterways:
- Monitor runoff from site daily as weather conditions continue to warm and runoff increases.
- Check all erosion and sediment control measures (CMs) daily for adequacy. Maintain CMs as needed.
- Add additional CMs as needed to minimize sediment from leaving site.
- Refresh and install new vehicle tracking pads, to reduce mud tracking onto roadways, and sweep/scrape areas in front of your site as needed.
- Pick up newly exposed trash daily.
Additional tips for residents:
- Flood insurance is recommended even for properties outside of the Special Flood Hazard Area. Typically, a 30-day waiting period runs from when insurance is purchased to when it goes into effect.
- City staff is available to assist property owners with site visits and advice on how to protect from flooding.
- Clear or report drainage and creeks clogged with debris.
- Sign up for Routt County Alerts to receive important emergency notifications like flooding.
- Review the FEMA designated floodplain and floodway and Routt County Office of Emergency Management’s High Water Preparedness Info Guide.
- Follow weather forecasts and take precautions during heavy spring storms.
- If you reside in a frequently flooded area, keep materials, such as sandbags, plywood, and plastic sheeting on hand to help protect property. The city has strategically placed sand stations to assist residents.
“The potential for flooding is due to fluctuating water flow within the Yampa River Basin,” gushed Senior Planner & Floodplain Manager Bob Keenan. “Major flooding events have been the result of snowmelt augmented by rain in spring or early summer. In fact, the highest runoff on record was due to heavy rain falling on a melting snowpack.”
A USGS monitoring site on the Yampa River at the 5th Street Bridge tracks water temperature, discharge, and gage height among other statistics. For more information, resources, and programs, visit the Floodplain Management webpage.