WSP11430

• File Number: 8449
• Description: Platte River Projects
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Date: 5/1/1975
• Author: USACOE
• Title: Needs Identification and Supplement to the Plan of Study, Water and Related Land Resources Management Study
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

.

. To provide information to local gover~ents and private citi-

zens for guidance on the use of flood plains;

. To reduce future flood damages by flood plain management to

protect developments, thus reducing flood damage prevention prob-

lems arising from improper flood plain developments; and

. To delineate flood hazard areas that may be used as a basis

for administration of the Federal Flood Insarance Program by the

Department of Housing and Urban Development.

HIGH PLAINS

The high plains region of the South Platte River basin is

generally characterized by wider flood plains than in the mountain-

ous areas of the basin. Stream slopes are flatter and flow veloci-

ties significantly lower. These flood plains are primarily subject

to agricultural-type land use with the exception of numerous urban

localities which, in many cases, have developed in flood plains

and have suffered severe flood-related damages in the past. The

flood hazard problems in these localities are quite varied and are

caused by numerous situations including but not luaited to (1) inade-

quate channel capacities due to encroachment On natural channels,

(2) road and rail crossings for which inadequate flood conveyance

area has been provided, (3) complete flood plain development leav-

ing no channel to convey flood waters, and (4) flood flow diversion

from natural courses due to ponding into streets and irrigation

ditches and subsequent overland flow.

The continued growth of these urban localities is most assured

in the future and comprehensive flood plain planning is needed in

order to control flood problems and keep them from escalating.

.

39