The city of Steamboat Springs said Monday that community members should be prepared for rising water levels as melting snowpack fuels spring runoff intensity.

“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 the city’s 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,” he added in a statement.

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A city press statement released Monday offered a reminder to construction project supervisors about requirements aimed at minimizing the amount of pollutants entering local waterways.

Project supervisors must monitor runoff from their site daily, particularly as temperatures warm and increase water flows, and check all erosion and sediment control measures.

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The city also said construction sites should have refreshed vehicle tracking pads to reduce the amount of mud on local roads, sweep and scrape areas in front of the site and pick up newly exposed trash daily.

Residents are advised to follow weather forecasts and take precautions during heavy spring storms, particularly if they live in a frequently flooded area. To sign up for the Routt County alert system, go to the county’s website at: co.Routt.co.us.

Stand stations have been set up to assist residents in flood-prone areas, and the city said community members should keep materials such as sandbags, plywood and plastic sheeting on hand in case they need to protect their property from flooding.

City staff are available to assist property owners with site visits to offer advice on how to add flooding protections.

“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,” said Senior Planner & Floodplain Manager Bob Keenan in a statement.

Data on the temperature, discharge and gage height for the Yampa River in Steamboat is collected from a U.S. Geological Survey station located on the 5th Street Bridge and can be viewed at WaterData.usgs.gov.

On Sunday morning, the river’s height at the Steamboat survey station was 3.07 feet and its discharge was 919 cubic feet per second.

As of Monday morning, the river’s gage height jumped to 3.69 feet and its discharge flowed at 1,240 cubic feet per second.

For more information, resources and local programs, visit the Floodplain Management page on the city’s website: SteamboatSprings.net.