A comparison between the 1997 Spring Creek flood and potentially dangerous creeks in Colorado Springs, Colorado

Senior Thesis: Jason Howard

Flash flooding in Colorado presents a particularly hazardous situation to those people and businesses near streams. In an urban setting, this is particularly true. With urbanization comes increased runoff an d response time of a stream. The potential for a disastrous flash flood on an urban drainage basin is great, given the topography and climatic conditions of Colorado and the density of urban populations. Given this information, it is important to note s uch occurrences as the 1997 Spring Creek flood in Fort Collins, Colorado. The conditions of this drainage basin were such that even in a flood greater than the projected 100-year event, few lives were lost. This is due to the foresight of the city of Fo rt Collins. Recognizing that a problem existed along the Spring Creek watercourse, changes were made within the floodplain that limited the amount of development. However, such measures have generally not been taken in Colorado Springs. Two drainages i n particular, Shooks Run and Douglas Creek each have the potential to flood catastrophically. In the case of these two urban drainages, the city of Colorado Springs has done as little as possible to prevent the damages from a significant flood event from turning in a worst-case-scenario. Douglas Creek is generally a dry creek, originating in the mountains to the west of the city. The most of the channel is lined with concrete and the projected 100-year flood confined within this channel. However, floo d hazard planning in this basin does not take into consideration the possibility of a flood greater than the projected 100-year event. As a result, many homes are sited in close proximity to the channel. Shooks Run, on the other hand, exists amidst near total development. Its channel is choked with vegetation and is surrounded by houses and apartments. The channel of Shooks Run has seen little improvement and implementation of flood hazard mitigation plans, and as a result poses a great risk to those people living close to its course. It is thus paramount to bring these hazards to light in the context of the 1997 flood on Spring Creek.