Probability and volume of potential postwildfire debris flows in the 2010 Fourmile burn area, Boulder County, Colorado

Open-File Report 2010-1244
Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Arapahoe and Roosevelt National Forests and Boulder County
By: , and 

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Abstract

This report presents a preliminary emergency assessment of the debris-flow hazards from drainage basins burned by the Fourmile Creek fire in Boulder County, Colorado, in 2010. Empirical models derived from statistical evaluation of data collected from recently burned basins throughout the intermountain western United States were used to estimate the probability of debris-flow occurrence and volumes of debris flows for selected drainage basins. Data for the models include burn severity, rainfall total and intensity for a 25-year-recurrence, 1-hour-duration rainstorm, and topographic and soil property characteristics. Several of the selected drainage basins in Fourmile Creek and Gold Run were identified as having probabilities of debris-flow occurrence greater than 60 percent, and many more with probabilities greater than 45 percent, in response to the 25-year recurrence, 1-hour rainfall. None of the Fourmile Canyon Creek drainage basins selected had probabilities greater than 45 percent. Throughout the Gold Run area and the Fourmile Creek area upstream from Gold Run, the higher probabilities tend to be in the basins with southerly aspects (southeast, south, and southwest slopes). Many basins along the perimeter of the fire area were identified as having low probability of occurrence of debris flow. Volume of debris flows predicted from drainage basins with probabilities of occurrence greater than 60 percent ranged from 1,200 to 9,400 m3. The predicted moderately high probabilities and some of the larger volumes responses predicted for the modeled storm indicate a potential for substantial debris-flow effects to buildings, roads, bridges, culverts, and reservoirs located both within these drainages and immediately downstream from the burned area. However, even small debris flows that affect structures at the basin outlets could cause considerable damage.
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Probability and volume of potential postwildfire debris flows in the 2010 Fourmile burn area, Boulder County, Colorado
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2010-1244
DOI 10.3133/ofr20101244
Edition -
Year Published 2010
Language ENGLISH
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Contributing office(s) Colorado Water Science Center
Description iv, 5 p.; 2 Plate Downloads; Plate 1: 36 inches x 24 inches; Plate 2: 36 inches x 24 inches
Time Range Start 2010-01-01
Time Range End 2010-12-31
Additional Online Files (Y/N) Y
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