FLOOD11630 ‎(2)‎

• County: Statewide
• Basin: Arkansas
• Title: Post Flood Assessment Report - Arkansas River
• Date: 9/15/1999
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Flood Documentation Report

FLOOD CHROI~OLOGY
Major flooding began to occur in the Fountain Creek, Arkansas and Purgatoire xiver basins
between Apri129, 1999 and eazly May 1999. In the Fountain Creek basin, minar flooding began
on the morning of Apri129, 1999. Flooding problems along the Founta.i.n escalated through the
day, reaching major proportions that evening. The major flooding along Fountain Creek
continued through May 1, 1999 before water levels began to slowly recede. Damage was
widespread from Manitou Springs to Pueblo.
In the upper Fountain, azovnd Manitou Springs, homes fell victim to mud and rack siides.
Homes and businesses were also flooded and numerous roads and bridges were ~ither damaged
or destroyed. In addition, the city water supply was contaminated a~id the sewa~;e system failed,
allowing raw sewage to seep into the streets. The heaviest rainfall occurred in Colorado Springs.
In Colorado Springs, between S`~ and 21~ Avenues, completely was~ed away the soil supporting
both east-bound and west-bound approaches to U.S. Highway 24, a major four-lane
thoroughfare. Two mobile home parks along the river were flooded and numerous roads and
bridges were either damaged or destroyed.
In Pueblo County, flows from Fountain Creek also damaged or destroyed numer~us roads and
bridges. Flood flows also washed away a bike route and eroded away miles of ranch land. Both
Fountain Creek and the St. Charles River, another tributary to the Arkansas River, crested on
Friday April 30, 1999. Water levels dropped below flood stage at all points alon,g Fountain
Creek by Monday May 3, 1999. The flood peaks that moved down these tributaries reached the
confluence with the Arkansas River on May 1, 1999.
The Arkansas River began to flood on April 30, 1999. Flooding problems were first noted along
the river, east of Pueblo, near Avondale. In this azea, major agricultural flooding occuned and
several homes were flooded. Numerous roads were damaged or destroyed. The ,4rkansas River
crested at Pueblo and rose to a new river stage of record at Avondale on Saturday May 1, 1999.
Flood waters spread east into Otero and Crowley Counties the night of Apri130, :1999 and into
the morning of May 1, 1999.
Flooding problems became quite serious in Otero and Crowley Counties during t~ie day of May
1, 1999. During the evening of May 1, 1999 through the day of May 2, 1999, the flooding
reached major proportions from Rocky Ford to La Junta. Rocky Ford experience~3 flooding and
sewer water back up problems, but the area known as North La Junta was most severely affected.
In North La Junta, about 300 homes were flooded with water two thirds of the way up doorways
and flowing through businesses. Rescues were performed to save the lives of those who refused
to leave during evacuations. Many homes and businesses located on the south bank portion of
La Junta were also flooded. These areas in south La Junta were primarily affected by storm
sewer back up. Flood waters also spread east into Bent County on May 1, 1999. .Although water
levels climbed several feet above flood stage in Bent County, flood d~mage was confined mainly
to roads and agricultural land. The local flood protection levee at Las Animas held back
floodwaters and spared the city from severe flooding. The Arkansas Kiver crested at La Junta on
Chapter 3- Flood o, f April ~.~9, 1999
Post Flood Assessment Report ~ 14 Draft Revised' 09/09/99