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<br />developed areas that have encroached into the overbanks of these channels, severely <br />constricting the floodplain and diminishing the carrying capacity for large floodflows. <br /> <br />In the City of Edgewater, flood problems within the Sloans Lake subbasin occur as a result of <br />overflow from the drainageway between Ingalls Street and 20th A venue to the eastern <br />corporate limits at Depew Street. Upstream of Ingalls Street and 20th A venue to the western <br />corporate limits, overflow is split between a storm sewer and the streets. Flooding in this area <br />is caused in part by thunderstorms during the spring, perpetuated by antecedent ground <br />mixture and melting snow. <br /> <br />In the City of Golden, manmade and natural obstructions in stream channels and floodplain <br />areas impede the flow of water, creating a backwater effect that increases flood heights. <br />These obstructions include bridges, culverts, stream-regulating structures, channel <br />realignments from their natural course, buildings in the floodplains, and trees and brush in the <br />stream channels. <br /> <br />The history of flooding in the City of Golden indicates that the most serious flooding has been <br />the result of cloudbursts occurring from late May to early September. Several severe floods <br />have been recorded in Golden since 1864. On August 1, 1888, cloudbursts along the Front <br />Range produced a peak discharge on Clear Creek of 8,700 cfs that lasted for two hours. This <br />discharge was measured 7 miles upstream of Golden. Most of the damage from this flood <br />occurred in Clear Creek Canyon between Idaho Springs and Golden (Reference 28). On July <br />24, 1896, cloudbursts over Clear Creek Canyon and Golden Gate Canyon produced floods on <br />both Clear Creek and Tucker Gulch. Three people were killed when a wall of water passed <br />down Tucker Gulch. Most of the homes and businesses along lower Tucker Gulch sustained <br />substantial damage (many were completely demolished) and most of the bridges across Clear <br />Creek were swept away (Reference 35). On July 23 and 24, 1965, heavy rains over the Clear <br />Creek and Tucker Gulch basins (4.5 inches in one hour being reported on Tucker Gulch) <br />produced flash flooding in Golden and inundated a wide area, causing major damage to <br />homes, bridges, and utility lines. The most extensive damage occurred along Tucker Gulch <br />(Reference 34). The preceding descriptions are examples of some of the more amazing floods <br />experienced in Golden; however, many other floods have also inflicted damage. <br /> <br />Within the Town of Morrison, the history of flooding indicates that floods occur from late <br />May through early September, seemingly the result of cloudburst activity. Flood problems in <br />the town result from high peaks occurring in Bear Creek and Mount Vernon Creek as they <br />enter Morrison, especially when they occur simultaneously or in close succession. Much <br />property has been destroyed, incl~ding bridges, railroad tracks, houses, and highways in the <br />canyons (Reference 28). <br /> <br />Both man made and naturally occurring obstructions exist within the floodplain, restricting the <br />flow of water and causing an increase in flood levels. The obstructions consist of trees and a <br />heavy growth of underbrush in some areas. Obstructions within the Bear Creek floodplain <br />consist mostly of large rocks, trees, and some brush areas within the floodplain. <br /> <br />Many smaller tributaries to Bear Creek upstream from Morrison contribute relatively large <br />peak flows to the Bear Creek floodplain and thus to Morrison. <br /> <br />20 <br />